Nature of Self-Expression
Being true to you
(Essay revised July 2024)
“Express yourself, You gotta be you and only you baby, Express yourself, let me be me, Express yourself, don’t tell me what I cannot do, baby, Come on and work your body”. Jacci McGhee chorus vocals in Expression by Salt & Pepa
I have always loved to sing and dance!
Music is my favorite form of self-expression.
I grew up listening to and studying R&B and Gospel but Hip-Hop was my generation’s outlet. We created our unique hip-hop style in the urban terrains of Harlem and the Bronx and like most up-and-coming generations, we did not fit neatly into the world at that time.
But we were expressing ourselves to way we knew how not understanding how the culture would progress.
Self-expression is something you own although inspiration is always found from one another.
If you like to rap or sing, you will not sound exactly like another artist no matter how much you may mimic them, your voice is your own.
If you want to paint, your canvas will not look like Jean Michel Basquiat’s pieces because his SOUL expression differs from yours.
If you want to write, your poem or book is not going to reflect the same emotion as one from Nikki Giovanni or Maya Angelou because they are writing from their own experiences.
I’ll share with you a personal example.
My uncle used to have his drumset, guitar, sheet music his music notebook where he wrote lyrics just lying around. Little did he know, I studied the notebook and that is how I learned to construct a song on paper. I was never trained and did not develop a natural proclivity (at that time) for reading music but I understood melody well.
Sidebar: My uncle named one of his daughters Melody.
Being inspired by my uncle, I began to express my own identity through my poetry and songs at 9 years old.
“Without self-expression, life lacks spontaneity and joy. Without service to others, it lacks meaning and purpose.” Laurence Boldt
When we are expressing ourselves, we are sharing ourselves with others.
~ In music, the songwriter is sharing their story and the vocalist is sharing their emotions in the delivery of that song.
~ In art, paintings or graffiti, the painter and artist are sharing their vision.
~ In writing, the author is sharing a narrative.
~ A dancer is interpreting the music through body movement.
~ In TV and Film, the actor is sharing their commitment to character.
~ In fashion, the customer wears colors and patterns that communicate their personal style.
~ In interior decorating or architecture, the designer is sharing his or her relationship to aesthetics.
~ In ministry, the clergy share their love of God.
~ In politics, a senator or congressman is sharing their education and personal values.
~ In sports, the athlete is sharing their showmanship skills.
~ When a child colors a picture to give to one of their parents to stick on the refrigerator, they are sharing their affection.
Self-expression doesn’t always foster positive feedback.
Not everyone is meant to “get you” or understand what you are trying to communicate but that should not stop you from expressing yourself.
The main reason why you need to express yourself is so that you can be authentic in your life path and purpose.
As someone who has had to find ways of conquering trauma, I realized when I wasn’t creating is when I was not expressing myself in ways that were positively reinforcing my self-esteem.
I had to reach back and see what I was doing naturally as a child that was meaningful to me that I had lost the connection to. Sometimes it is not so easy to figure out. It is ok to impart on a new venture of self-expression like playing guitar or taking salsa lessons.
In many cultures, a journey of self-discovery would be considered odd, unusual, a waste of time, or even selfish; the people might say something like, “Why spend your time and effort on getting to know yourself? Just ask your family — they’ll tell you exactly who you are!” https://positivepsychology.com/self-expression/
Self-expression is a part of intrapersonal skills, the art of the relationship with oneself.
This is touted as more of a Western cultural thing. I think we have individualism but that we haven’t necessarily forgotten about traditions in a sense of what we share with our family and friends. I believe that individualism is important in Western culture because we have more of a “perceived” freedom to do so and we do know in America that is not something every culture was able to do — be free!
We know of many places in the world where freedom does not exist and people are living under dictatorships and oppressive regimes so the ones who are able to cross the border looking for a better way of life are risking it all.
As Americans, we do have many privileges of being able to create the life we want but as an African American woman, I know my ancestors paid the ultimate price for me to do so and I am grateful.
Yes, “they” are trying to take away some of the laws that allow autonomy of one’s life and it has caused collective dismay. Remember though that although your life as an individual is important and the ways in which you express yourself is pertinent it is not just for you, it is in service for all of us.
Said by Simone 🤎
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Until next time…peace ✌🏽
