Transparency is the name of my new art series, a title my brother Gerard and I brainstormed together.
Another word that came up during our discussion was “essence.” After some reflection, we realized that transparency is the movement toward essence, which made it our favorite choice.
Essence represents authenticity. When you strip away the illusions, you’re left with the core of who you are. This authenticity is what transparency is all about — it’s about clarity, honesty, and being real with yourself.
It Starts with Yourself
The journey begins by cutting through the stories you tell yourself, the ones that keep you stuck. These stories aren’t real; they’re fabricated in your mind. And, whether you like it or not, you’re listening to them like a record on repeat — consciously or unconsciously.
They might arise from fear — fear of what will happen if you let go, a false sense of security. Maybe they stem from childhood, stories you made up to protect yourself from difficult situations. Perhaps they come from your parents or family members, like a frustrated relative who passed down their own experiences and beliefs, and you unknowingly accepted them as your truth.
For example, I once believed that I could never raise my kids alone, earn enough money, let alone own a house. But life pushed me in that direction, and for me I had no choice but to change those stories about myself. In hindsight, you may say, “lucky you,” but in the middle of it, I wished for something less challenging. Yet, here I am. I rewrote the story in my mind to one where I was capable of doing it all.
Embracing Vulnerability
Being transparent with yourself takes courage. It’s not easy to look in the mirror and admit what needs to change and to let go of the comfort of old narratives. It can feel exposing, like you’re stepping into the world without armor. But this vulnerability is essential. It’s through allowing yourself to be vulnerable that you open the door to change. Transparency brings you closer to your essence, and in doing so, it brings you closer to the life you truly should live.
Change the Narrative
The stories that replay in your mind — they are not real. They are illusions. They should not define you. The next time you find yourself telling the story of “poor me,” unable to earn enough money or find the right partner, change the story. Start telling the story where you already feel the money flowing in and what you will do with it, or the story where you can see the face or smell the scent of that special person who’s about to enter your life. Tell these stories to someone, so they become more real in your current life.
This is how you shift your narrative. This is how you become a magnet for all that is waiting to come to you — it’s all there to be called in by you.
Getting to Know Your Mind
One of the first steps toward transparency is becoming familiar with your mind — getting to know the inner voices that shape your stories. For me, meditation is key. It helps me quiet the noise and observe my thoughts without judgment. But there are many paths to this awareness. Maybe for you, it’s alone time in nature, or any other activity that connects you with yourself.
The goal is to create space, so you can become the observer of your thoughts, not just the thinker. When you can see your mind more clearly, it’s easier to recognize the fake stories it is telling you.
A Call to Action
Since you’re reading this, I dare to say it’s time to get real with yourself and strip away the next layer of illusion that’s keeping you stuck. Start now — sooner rather than later — because the world needs your talent at 100% capacity!
