Self-development is punk

Recently, I’ve had an epiphany. And it’s very exciting.

I’ve actually (re)anchored all of my sites, branding and content around this central theme, which has always been there — but I just never really noticed it, or put a name to it. It’s this: we are punk.

Self-development is punk.

Creativity is punk.

Travel is punk.

This epic carefree, artistic, nomadic lifestyle is — yes — punk.

This is my thesis. True self-development (etc.) is embracing some disruption by rejecting some norm — and doing it with full creativity, curiosity and rebellion.

What is ‘Punk’?

Most of us have an idea of what punk is — the Sex Pistols, Blink 182, Converse shoes with green hair and Mohawks. But it’s so much more than just great music and a cool style.

Punk was a reaction to overly polished and elaborate music — a fight against corporate flair infiltrating art and the individual. It was the energy of people trying to find their place and express themselves fully and authentically.

Goodbye suits and routines telling me “Sit quietly, show up on time — this is how you behave.”

Punk was a movement of being okay with — nay, being stoked with — NOT belonging, and going against the grain to forge your own path.

I freaking love this idea. And everything I talk about in these letters and on my sites comes back to being punk.

If you feel like you don’t quite fit the mold around you or struggle with accepting it, then punk may be your answer.

Why Self-Development, Creativity and Life Should be More Punk

Punk is a mixture of owning your authenticity, rejecting anyone else’s prebuilt mold for you and doing whatever makes you most happy in life.

I can think of no greater way to approach self-development than stepping into your raw unique power, not going with the flow (because you want to find your own) and making time to do the things you actually love in life.

If you step into this perspective — this lifestyle — you are punk. Welcome to the club.

Punk is a formula for being more carefree, happier and just all-around cooler and more interesting. We are, by nature, rebellious and artistic.

Self-development stems from an inner sense and need to change your state or situation, because something (sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint) feels off in your life, environment and society.

Don’t settle. Don’t sit quietly and accept the cards that are — throw the whole deck out and create a new one. Buy a one-way ticket, get some dirt on your face and splash new colors on your canvas that is life.

Self-development should not be some quest to quiet the rebellion or dissatisfaction just to fit into some mold you do not fully support or align with. Rather, self-development should be an embracement of your rejection to that mold — the art of disrupting the patterns around you and doing whatever you want.

Punk.

Being punk simply means embracing your raw and unique human self and soul energy.

Self-development can feel like an inner urge to change something around you, because you feel like you’re not up to snuff, or you don’t fit in, and you can’t seem to make the normal things work for you (when they apparently work for everyone else).

I say, don’t feel like you need to try to fit anyone’s mold (society, friends, family…). Don’t settle for things that intuitively feel unexciting, misaligned and totally unfulfilling.

Be punk about it.

Reject the mold altogether, embrace your inner voice and authenticity and make a dang mess like a freaking artist. That’s self-development. That’s stepping into your innate power. And that is punk.

✌️