To be unmastered...

This is my version of self-help.

I wrote a manuscript in the last 14 months, more on that later. I’m in a weird editing stage for it right now as I try to make sense of the Frankenstein I’ve created. This isn’t from the work, but I was thinking about UNMASTERED. The literal word, what it means to me, and then at the larger more socio-political implications as I tend to do, sorry not sorry. Enjoy :)

“Like songs, humans are also mixed in the way we are compositions of a series of hopes and aspirations. We are the productions of love— some lust. And as we grow, we try our hardest to stay within the confines of a pentameter—a system. It’s easier to follow the direction of the sailor that has traveled the general route and chartered the turbulence of many waters. We adhere to traditions that have been passed down for the sake of safety and security.

Many of us are plagued with a desire to be told who we are. Clinging onto any title that reveals itself, reflecting at us, mirroring our inner workings as we struggle to find a semblance, any familiarity in this condition we call the human experience. It feels warm to feel seen in such a cold world, and we form attachments. Like affirmations, we repeat these mantras to ourselves.

That we’re going to get good grades because that’s what everyone else does and all who don’t are defiant and subsequently, outcasted. We say we’re going to college, because if we don’t then we won’t obtain a respectable job, one that pays a living, respectful wage. That with no job we’ll be unable to afford a nice apartment. One that we will spend very little time in because for you to deserve nice things, you must be working something like a 40-hour work week. Then after receiving those pieces of paper—degrees— we feel our internal abyss begging to be filled and unable to discern what our soul truly desires. We end up becoming engaged. We fall in love and form a partnership because misery loves company and then we have children. The cycle continues like a well-oiled machine.

We’re indoctrinated by dreams that are not our own, but mere projections, and we hold onto them like childhood teddy bears until they become in charge. Even when we try to outgrow them when they no longer serve us, there’s this sticky desire to cling onto them. If they don't follow us on errands, they remain in a storage unit we pay for monthly.

I challenge you not to make the same mistake. The one that crushes our spirits over and over again. Repetition for the sake of stubbornness, a stagnant vibration. Unable to conceptualize or accept that we come into this world without masters. That your existence is a miracle, not a circumstance.

Remember, we are catapulted into this world, wailing, gasping for air. They cut the chord from our mothers—our lifelines—and let us loose into the wild.

Life is your birthright and you have no master! We’re Unmastered beings. Yet, so many of us are tied and to that I say, let yourself go, be free. Don’t you like to feel the breeze? Move your body through space. Exercise your will and no one else’s.

Allow yourself to be ugly. Life isn’t always pretty. Tell the truth despite the outcome. Embrace the beauty of admiring people. Don’t let things rule you. Indulge in your vices. Practice self-control. Make yourself proud but most of all, happy. Maintain healthy relationships. Be a good friend, partner, or sibling. Accept that you are not always right. Make your judgments. Apologize when you’re wrong. Be slow to speak and eager to listen. Take constructive criticism. Instead of nice, kind. Give compliments. Learn how to take them. Open doors for people— figuratively and literally. Be someone’s inspiration. Be your inspiration.”

Try to practice five things you’re grateful for in the morning. I’ll be back next Sunday evening, where we’ll be talking about love. Thank you for being here.

With love,

Tobi xx