believing you have something worth sharing

Since leaving facebook on my 37th birthday in April this year, I have had little avenue to share my thoughts and feelings with a wider circle. Since covid lockdown, I've had even less chance than usual to express myself with anyone other than my immediate family. When speaking with my husband about my desire to share my songwriting with others recently, it opened up a discussion about why it is (or isn't) important to share your art with others.Soon after I watched the doco Dolly, where I was surprised to find resonance with a number of things she said, one being, "You have to believe you have something to share." This got me thinking..."Do I?" What does one base the answer on? Why would my life story or opinions be more important than others? How much is motivated by ego and the search for validation rather than a deeper desire for connection with those who listen? So sensitive to the ego cringe myself I have shied away from self expression, concerned more with not wanting to appear arrogant and egocentric than giving myself the time of day to actually share my inner world more completely than ever before. I had a discussion with myself and came up, finally, with this: It may appear it is the ego inspiring one's desire for the validation of one's inner world, but if its the creative spirit that runs through you (and when I'm writing or creating that is indeed what it feels like) then how could it be anything less than spiritual rather than material or ego based? We are simply the vessel for the story that's being told through us. Still the vulnerability! Opening oneself up and baring one's soul through their art is so honourable, so brave. How judgement and the fear of it stops us in our tracks! It is such a pervasive theme in therapy, that fear of what others will think of us if we do....And perhaps this is where so much growth awaits us, untangling our 'what if thoughts' from the drive to express who we truly are. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, perhaps our creative expression can be held as the same, appealing to some and less so for others. And that's ok. At the end of the day we all have something worth sharing, its just about giving yourself permission to do so and the courage to take a few knocks along the way. So my first step was to publish some meditations. Done. Second step will be open mike with some original songs. Authentic expression. One step at a time. What's stopping you from doing what your heart truly desires? And what would it take to overcome that barrier? Until next time...