The Illusion of ‘Expressing Yourself’: Why I Choose Vision Over Reaction

We are constantly urged by modern culture to ‘express ourselves’. It is handed to us as the ultimate artistic and emotional goal. Yet, we are rarely asked the fundamental question that should precede it: who is the ‘myself’ we are actually expressing?

In the contemporary art world, self-expression is often synonymous with critique. It is fashionable to channel anger, social commentary, political frustration, or deep sadness onto the canvas. And while these forms of expression are widely celebrated, I find myself asking: how much of this raw emotion truly represents our core Self?

If we believe that, at our deepest level, we are conductors of life—vessels for Source Energy, for the Divine—then how can we simultaneously be the accusers?

Bringing a fleeting vision to life, one deliberate brushstroke at a time. This detailed close-up shows the meticulously applied masking fluid and fine lines, a tangible step in anchoring a meaningful memento from a space of clarity.

The Argument Against 'Toxic Positivity'

When people look at my affirmarelles, with their vibrant watercolours and uplifting calligraphy, the word ‘positivity’ inevitably comes up. And with it, a common critique: “Isn’t this just a form of suppression? Aren’t you just hiding the negative, letting it build up until it inevitably explodes?”

Expressing negativity can indeed offer temporary relief. Channelling anger into a painting can shift someone out of a stagnant, depressive state. It acts as a release valve. But to me, that is merely a temporary stage of well-being. It is a coping mechanism, not a creative act.

Much of what we call accusatory or critical art is a form of regurgitation. It takes what is—the present, flawed reality—and spits it back out. It doesn't create anything new; it simply reinforces and solidifies the current state of things.

My art is different. My art is deliberately, unapologetically creative. It is directed not at what is, but at the vision of what I know can be.

A Look in the Mirror: My Own Creative Evolution

I don’t write these words lightly, or from a place of judgement. In fact, I am speaking from experience.

Years ago, I published a sci-fi novel called Memloots - The Exposition. At the time, I hadn’t yet fully stepped into this deliberate way of creating; I was coming from a deep spiritual journey rooted in the study of sacred texts. The book was filled with a yearning for the Divine and inner peace, but it also contained heavy symbolic critiques of this world—the ruthless profit-driven nature of corporations, and the destruction of the environment.

Granted, storytelling requires friction. A novel where protagonists do nothing but smile and embrace would be terribly dull. Contrast is a natural part of narrative.

Yet, when I look back at certain passages today, I feel a shift. I realise I would no longer choose to write those negative, critical elements. It wasn't 'wrong'—it was simply where my consciousness was anchored at that moment. While focusing on the Source within, I was also reacting to some things in this world that I didn’t particularly like. Seeing my own evolution makes me realise that acknowledging a flawed present is sometimes just the stepping stone required to finally choose a higher vision.

Calling Forward a Pleasing Reality

There is a profound difference between reacting to the present circumstance and deliberately creating your future. When I write certain affirmations, I am fully aware that, in the physical world, that statement might not look 'true' just yet.

But I know that truth is relative. If an affirmation feels out of reach, it is only in relation to a temporary, fleeting present. And the beautiful thing about this world is that things change.

My affirmarelles are bridges. They are physical mementos brought into this time-space reality from the reality of my highest vision—a vision that is inherently pleasant, harmonious, and aligned.

The Question Before the Brush Touches Paper

Every time I start a new project, I ask myself one vital question:

“Where is this urge to express coming from?”

• Is it coming from a version of me that is resentful, critical, and reacting to what it hates? Or is it coming from the part of me directed towards a clear, beneficial vision?

• Is it coming from a self that feels diminished by certain physical circumstances, or from a Self that is fully charged with the absolute certainty of its own worth?

I choose the latter. I choose to be a creator, not an echo. And through my work, I invite you to remember who the 'Self' is that you are choosing to feed today.