AMUSE
(verb) to keep pleasantly occupied; entertain; to cause to laugh or smile
THE MUSES
(noun) the goddesses and genius’ who inspire, evoke, and provoke; forces of inspiration for a creative artist
ABOUT
We are just spiritual beings having a human experience.
We are all vessels, conduits for the Muses to pass through from the invisible realm into the physical world. We are vessels made of clay, holding within us the water of life. We are vessels, transferring the blood cells and oxygen to spark the synapse, pump the heart, and breathe in life. We are vessels, balancing on the ocean waters, transporting cargo from the Muses to the masses.
KNOW THYSELF
The number one commandment as a human is to KNOW THYSELF.
TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE
The second commandment is TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE.
It’s really important to know yourself — to know what makes you tick, what fuels you, enrages you, drains you, excites you, or inspires you. It’s like having access to your owner’s manual or a plant care guide, knowing the watering frequency or sunlight preference. It’s knowing what carrot on a stick will get your ass moving! To understand if you’re failure-averse or success-driven. To know the appropriate self-care and maintenance, bespoke and unique to you. You could be a Ferrari, but with an empty tank. It’s important to know who you are and what you’ve been given, so you can truly fulfill your potential, and in the end, help the rest of the world reach its potential. Because a greater me leads to a greater we.
VALUES
After reading Simon Sinek’s Find Your Why, it made me reflect on the specific tribe I want to attract. I narrowed down my top 7 values, or “core desired feelings,” which I can now use for everything in life. These top qualifiers help shape the vibe I want to attract, like how birds of a feather flock together. My values are as follows: (1. Proud, 2. Mind-blowing conversations/ideas, 3. Humor and laughter, 4. Positive attitudes, 5. Feeling understood, 6. Reliability, 7. Being a good person for the greater good.)
PROUD | Being growth-oriented, having goals, and striving for a greater purpose are essential. I value someone who is constantly working to be their best self in terms of accomplishments, character, and knowledge. Demonstrating perseverance and self-discipline is key to reaching self-actualization.
MIND-BLOWN | Having mind-blowing conversations or ideas is important to me. I enjoy thinking about interesting concepts, theories, analogies, philosophies, psychology, pop science, fun facts, technologies, and stories. I also value moments of awe, particularly when exploring or being struck by the natural beauty of the world.
SILLY | I appreciate having a good sense of humor and being ready to laugh. It’s important to find the humor in everything and riff off wordplay or engage in a pun-off. I also enjoy being around someone who can be silly with me—whether that’s through impersonations, fake accents, or ongoing inside jokes.
POSITIVE | I strive to maintain a positive mindset and focus on optimism. I choose to see things on the optimistic side, to reframe one’s narrative, and to avoid being a Debbie Downer or writing the narrative negatively. I believe there are always two sides to every coin, and it’s important to choose a positive perspective in any situation.
UNDERSTOOD | I value empathy, and I believe communication should be a two-way street. It’s important to me that someone is a good listener—actively listening, parroting, validating, and asking open-ended questions. I believe in being genuinely interested in one another’s life and whom we can reach out in support of one another. I value the feeling of being understood when sharing any idea or emotion.
RELIABLE | I believe being dependable is crucial. I value people who don’t flake, talk behind others’ backs, and are not two-faced or disloyal. It’s important to me that people follow through on their commitments and do what they say they will. Let’s not be sugary sweet one day and fiery angry the next. Let us all value self-control and self-awareness, and let’s not base our actions solely on our reactionary emotions.
GOOD | Being a good person is a core value of mine. I believe in having strong moral foundations and striving to make the world a better place. Let us choose the high road and not do anything dishonest or damaging to anyone else.
BELIEFS
BEAUTY | I believe in spreading beauty and sharing the lens through which to see, find, and create it.
GROWTH | I believe in offering new perspectives, mindset shifts, and paradigm shifts for the betterment of humankind. By empowering individuals to become stronger and better versions of themselves, we contribute to a greater collective good. Growth is happiness.
INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSION | I believe in appreciating and celebrating each person’s unique qualities and creative expressions.
DEEP CONNECTION | I believe in deep human connection—seeking affinity in others, fostering community, and cultivating a sense of belonging. Loneliness and depression are widespread issues, and the more someone feels loved, the more they can extend love to others.
EXPERIENCES | I believe in embracing all that life has to offer through every sense. I value planning and creating meaningful experiences, whether through food, travel, exploration, reading, watching, or celebrating birthdays and events. Life is a gift, and it is best lived by fully appreciating everything it has to offer.
SUPPORT | I believe in helping others, lending a listening ear, pushing each other to reach for positive goals. This belief is what pulls me to tap into using the power of philosophy, words, essays, imagery, photography, video, and storytelling to explain how to navigate life. I also seek to showcase the creativity of others, supporting and uplifting others in their success as artists, businesses, or pillars of community.