Bruce Lee said, “The truth is outside of all fixed patterns.” As an artist of the written word, martial arts, music, visual design, social media, and life, I seek this truth with a child’s heart.
I don’t subscribe to the philosophy of “Think outside the box.” For me, there is no box, only the unlimited potential that lives inside u
s, ready to be experienced through a consistent, disciplined, focused effort of creative expression. I witness this miracle when I listen to a timeless song or read an inspirational verse. It is at these moments that I feel closest to my spiritual beliefs.
As an artistic individual pursuing excellence, I am committed to self-discovery. I do not follow fixedpatterns such as trends, likes, views, the majority, or anything else that seeks to minimize self-expression. Conforming to be validated or accepted is perpetrating a fraud. We live a lie when we see a post, rumor, or opinion when we do so.
Compound that with the concept that a lie repeated often enough can be accepted as truth, and it is even more alarming. The truth never changes, only our perception of it.
My example is: Have you ever thought something was true about somebody only to find out you were totally wrong? This is how the distortion of a lie can be perceived as the truth.
Bruce Lee says the truth resides outside of fixed patterns. It does not do so in information or perceived misinformation. Your truth does not reflect how others dictate it to you, but your conviction. It’s a deeply personal journey, unique to each of us.
The more I understand myself, the less others seem to understand me. I attribute this to my thinking not fitting the narrative of popular opinion or fixed mindsets.
The path to one’s truth is personal and never exact. It can be uncertain, and I often do not know where I am going. But I move forward purposefully, knowing the truth will set you free. It’s okay not to have all the answers; the journey is the story of truth.
How do I know if my truth is genuine and not coming from a fixed, self-centered, insecure place? I am conflicted with this on a human level. Doubt, self-loathing, ego, and fear are all conditions of that. For me, it needs to be balanced with humility, gratitude, acceptance, discipline, empathy, and earned confidence from a place of service. These are the guides on my journey to truth.
The truth is, I am a work in progress. I am perfect in my imperfections. I am my own best friend and worst enemy. I am a walking contradiction at times. Above all, I am a seeker of truth outside the fixed patterns.