We are constantly learning and developing relationships from our experiences and interactions with other people. These enrichments expand our understanding of the world around us. However, sometimes the noise of our surroundings can become loud and it's important we are able to identify what is in line with us as individuals and in our practise as creatives. In this diary entry I reflect on how we can develop our independence...
Dear Diary,
I deeply value this space. Between these pages is a place where there are no external voices and the volume of my spirit is at the centre of my thoughts. It’s a place where I can reflect on my thoughts and feelings and strengthen my self-trust.
Thinking about where I started with my writing, where I am now and how my practise and perspectives have developed, I can see how both the challenges and opportunities I have experienced encouraged me to explore what I value, what I don’t value, and the path I want to follow. This process is similar to the growth of a tree.
Each experience has been like the growth of another root into the Earth’s soil as I develop and strengthen my truth. The darkness of the soil, the pushing through the unknown, demands a constant renewal of bravery. However, I know and trust the fact that the deepening of my truth allows me to rise into the sky and expand and breathe in greater volumes of life.
As I expand outwards, further into the spotlight, I find my branches met with different individuals who appreciate my presence and my creativity. They interact with me, placing pieces of themselves amongst my branches, forming nests. I am grateful for these connections but sometimes it invites a sense of obligation, an often self-inflicted pressure that everything they are has to be everything I become or accommodate. But healthy growth doesn’t work this way.
There’s only so much my branch can continue to grow in a set direction before the root, which is growing into the soil to give the branch’s extension, hits a boulder. This ‘boulder’, or value of mine, means that my branch has to grow in a slightly different direction, and in turn this means limiting the size of nest that can be held in that branch. To stay authentic to ourselves, it’s important to keep boundaries, and know what is in line with who we are.
The best way to keep myself aligned is by being aware of how I’m feeling through this process. It’s this way that I can keep in touch with what feels right for me in my growth. Sometimes that’s as simple as taking a moment to observe my body, to see if I am holding any tension or uncomfortability, or if my ‘roots’ are hitting any ‘rocks’.
I also like to be aware of when something fertilizes my growth. If it excites me and feeds the passion inside me then I know it’s connected to my purpose. Other times I crave a deeper insight to the crevasses of my personality and take time to know and understand what makes me, me. Our characters are as intricate as the carvings on the trunk of a tree, unique and detailed. We owe ourselves to know ourselves and it is through this familiarity we strengthen our independence in our being and our creativity and practise.
Just writing these reminders out for myself gives me a sense of grounding. Taking this time out to reflect on these tools has already helped me feel more in line with what I need to keep going in the direction that is right for me. Till next time.
Malika
Feel free to use the question below as a prompt to reflect on this creative piece. If you would like to share your reflection, you can click through on the question to our open sharing page.
With thanks to our partners and funders:
