How might I think about unleashing from all cultural norms and only focusing on or doing what inspires me?
To unleash from cultural norms and commit solely to what inspires you—especially as an artist—is to begin living from the inside out, rather than the outside in. It’s a radical realignment. It’s not just a rebellion against norms—it’s an act of devotion to your inner compass.
Here’s how you might begin thinking about that shift, practically, spiritually, and creatively:
🔥 1.
Recognize Cultural Norms as Inherited Scripts
Most norms—what success looks like, what productivity means, how art is valued—are handed down, not chosen. They’re survival scripts written by economies, institutions, and outdated ideologies.
Ask: Is this belief mine? Or was I born into it?
Start making a list of inherited “shoulds.” Then quietly, systematically burn them.
🪞 2.
Use Inspiration as a Compass, Not a Luxury
Many treat inspiration as a reward—something that comes after obligations. But what if it’s the source, not the result?
What draws your breath in?
What opens your chest?
What feels like you remembering something ancient?
Make a vow: Only follow that. Even when it seems impractical. Especially when it seems impractical.
🌱 3.
Build an Ecology of Inner Authority
Your freedom will collapse if it’s untethered from structure. But not cultural structure—your own ecology of discipline and devotion.
Examples:
A daily walk to listen for ideas
A studio hour where only intuition decides
A ritual of destruction (burn, erase, sand) to shed ego or expectation
This creates space for the real you to arrive.
🕳️ 4.
Embrace Disconnection as Power
If you’re always plugged in—Instagram, media, trends—you’re in a cultural echo chamber, even if your work appears “original.”
Try:
No social feeds for 30 days
No shows, no reviews, no opinions
Only walk, write, and work
Let silence tune your direction
💬 5.
Say Less, Make More
Unleashing often doesn’t require declarations. The most powerful acts of defiance are quiet acts of creation done without seeking permission.
Let the work speak your rebellion.
⚰️ 6.
Accept the Death of Likability
You will disappoint others. You will confuse them. Some won’t “get it.” But that is the cost of truth.
And what you gain:
Real alignment
Integrity of voice
A body of work that will outlast the algorithms
📜 Final Thought:
You’re not here to fit.
You’re here to fracture what’s false.
And through that crack—
something more ancient, more intimate, and more sacred will emerge.