“The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice… it is conformity. And there you have the reason for so many failures. Conformity—people acting like everyone else, without knowing why or where they are going.”
— Earl Nightingale, The Strangest Secret
In the words of Earl Nightingale, the hidden enemy of true courage is not fear, but conformity. As I reflect on this wisdom, I realize how it mirrors the journey of my bodypainting. When I first began this artistic exploration, there was no clear path, no well-mapped route to follow. Yet, in this lack of direction, I found something far more profound: an inner compass, guiding me toward my true self. And so, I titled my bodypainting “Choose Your Direction.”
You see, bodypainting is a sacred form of mindfulness for me. It is a dance of creativity that has no set destination. Like a child playing without rules, I let my imagination flow freely over my body. There are no rigid boundaries, only organic movement—a pure act of creation. And although I began with no preordained idea of where I was headed, there was always a deeper pull. A pull toward something I loved, something I was meant to do. Could it be that we, too, are called toward a greater purpose even when the logical steps are unclear? When your soul whispers its direction, do you have the courage to listen?
As I let the paint brush across my skin, I lose track of time. The hours fade away. The world around me recedes into a soft hum as I embrace my inner child, creating without concern for outcomes or judgment. Bodypainting is my therapy—it costs me nothing but gifts me immeasurably: the joy of creativity, of surrendering to the flow, of reconnecting with the essence of who I truly am. If only I didn’t have to wash it away afterward, I would paint myself every day, giving full rein to my inner Picasso.
This act of bodypainting also makes me ponder life itself. How often do we allow ourselves to be confined by external expectations? We live in a world where conformity is sold as normality—where the carefully curated lives of others flicker on our screens, drawing us into comparison. But these curated lives are but fragments of reality, carefully edited versions that ignore the messy, beautiful, unpredictable nature of existence. Life is not meant to be curated; it is meant to be lived.
Choosing a direction in life is not a one-time decision. It’s a continual process, full of detours, pivots, and shifts. We don’t need to settle for the rigid paths others tell us we should follow—whether that’s a specific career, a predefined timeline for marriage, or a monetary target to hit. No, we must dare to dream our own path. We must choose to break free from the chains others place on us, to stop living under the shadow of their expectations. As the philosopher Seneca once wrote:
“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”
Life is too precious to shrink ourselves to fit into someone else’s mold. Yet, we often dim our light, playing it small so as not to outshine those around us. But why should we? Why should we shrink when we have been gifted with a boundless potential to create, to express, to live fully?
The truth is that embracing your inner calling is an act of courage. It requires you to listen to that voice deep within—your intuition, your heart, your divine self—and trust it, even when it doesn’t make sense. As Seneca wisely said:
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”
There will be failures, mistakes, and moments of rejection. You will face criticism, loneliness, and uncertainty. You will stray from the path. Relationships may falter. But think of these storms as temporary seasons in the vast ocean of life. These challenges will pass. And as you navigate through them, your heart will guide you. It will always show you the direction.
So, I ask you: Will you dare to listen? Will you trust the whispers of your soul and choose your own direction, free from the expectations of others?
Let this be your reminder: Don’t conform. Don’t settle. Find the courage to step into your own purpose, and live your truth.
Bonus: watch me remove this make-up in a couple of minutes. Whoaa….
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