Suppressed Expression

It is the foundational instinct of all living things to seek fuller expression. Where growth
ceases, decay sets in immediately. This principle applies across the entire living world —
and it’s true in business as well.

Once you become aware of this principle, you’ll notice it everywhere around you. It
becomes so obvious.

We tend to appreciate the expression of growth in many areas of life, yet often suppress
it within ourselves and others. People who fully express themselves — through their style, dress, or
the way they carry themselves — often become targets for criticism.

A woman walking down the street, adorned in the finest fashion and elegant jewelry, will
likely be scoffed at. “She clearly has more than she needs,” some will say. “Why would
anyone need all of that?”

It strikes me as odd that we don’t look at a flower in full bloom and think, “That flower is
too yellow,” or “That flower smells too good,” or “That flower is just too beautiful.”
I suppose it’s because we’re not jealous of the flower — but we are jealous of the
person.

It’s not what they have that makes us jealous; it’s who they have become. Their
expression signals courage — the courage to step outside the herd, to embrace
discomfort, and take the risks necessary for growth.

When you look at that person, you see someone who has grown closer to their
potential. And in doing so, you recognize your own potential — and the gap between where you are and where you could be.

So, sometimes, you wish they would suppress their expression so you can feel justified
in your life of mediocrity. After all, it is very safe. And safety feels good… right?
But safety means avoiding death — just for one more day, one more year, a decade, or
a century. Safety is death-centric, and what we think about, we bring about.

Life — living — is about greater expression, about becoming more, about growth.
Shirk the shackles of safety; they will only lead you to death. Step out of your comfort
zone and dare to become more.

That’s living. That’s life.
“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living!” — Augustus McRae

Get busy living.