Growth is understanding that there's more than one way to figure out an equation. A lot of us will come across a situation & get stuck because the method we are using isn't yielding us the results “we believe” we are suppose to get. Many of us will, in fact, neglect even attempting to do something that is foreign to us because it isn't something we are comfortable with. Some of us will overthink it & then there's some of us who are just too stubborn to even try
And, then, there's me, addition to those who are like me, who just understand where we stand where we don't. NOT because we are deliberately being difficult, but because we just know ourselves well enough. Well enough to grasp the end in the beginning so we don't have to fuss w/ the process longer than necessary. If you aren't one of these types of personalities, it DEFINITELY can take some time to figure yourself out because certain things will resemble something and actually mean something different - this kind of understanding will help you eliminate unnecessarily jumping to unwanted conclusions.
You see, I DON'T “follow trends” - never really been my thing. I UNDERSTAND that they can definitely get you seen and or heard, hell - they can even get you a whole career - but I also understand that w/ that journey comes the weight of having to continue w/ that pursuant of being what's hot/popular. And, IN MY MIND, that shit can get exhausting! Especially in a time where everyone's attention span is in the span of a TikTok reel - your spark that was once a fire, can easily fizz out by the next season of the same year. Most ppl don't really truly grasp the anxiety it can take to find something that's popular & stay w/ that momentum AND STILL be authentic to themselves. Does it happen? Sure - but how many ppl can say they rode a trend for 10, 15, 20+ yrs and stayed true to who they are/were? VERY FEW! And those who got lost in the mix, eventually they either lose who made them want to get into the field they are in OR their fan base can see right through it and some connections are lost.
I lean towards the MOST POWERFUL thing is to create your own lane & start your own style and be your own trend. And sometimes, that comes w/ some resistance because a lot of ppl may not be familiar w/ it OR, more commonly displayed, most ppl won't accept it because “it's not what everyone else is doing”. And that can be frustrating because it's like them saying they can't like you because not enough ppl do lol. W.T.H.?!
But, it's also an understandable reason in today's world, right? People want to like something that's known or something else that they can have in common to bond and talk about - so I DO get it. But, there's just something about liking something that “nobody knows about” just yet & being ahead of the curve when it comes to showing support. But, as for me, I have came to grips w/ the fact that if someone else doesn't like it as much as me, well, that's THEIR loss! Same goes for accepting doing something that brings me joy and/or peace (of mind). I do appreciate having something in common w/ others but I also understand the power of being a part of “a selected few”. But, if you ever look at those who set their own path and blazed their own trails, you will see there's a different type of satisfaction w/ them - especially when they find “their ppl” aka the fans who love the fact they identify NOT as everyone else but something different…something unique…something “not trendy”
I have learned that being the odd ball out from popular trends sometimes does bring balance & gives you the chance to find the diamond that most ppl can't recognize value in. I have come to conclusion that following a trend could get you “hot” but doesn't mean that you're “on fire”. A lot of followers does NOT equate to fans & fans do NOT equate to support. Be in love w/ yourself & what it is that you do & everything else will fall in the places they were meant to at the time they were suppose to.
So, I guess after typing this & realizing that I rather just create my own lane & be unique & stay true to myself for those who appreciate that type of energy - I guess I do follow trends after all…
D. Cal
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