Discovering True Freedom: Grant Wattie on Relationships

Have you ever wondered what our world would be like if it was designed differently?

We all know the creation story from Genesis, a majestic account of light, land, and life.

Now imagine if the universe wasn’t a divine creation, but a corporate product! Instead of the Big Bang, picture “God Inc.,” a company focused on profit over pizzazz. Lush rainforests? Forget it! Think endless beige office parks, flickering fluorescent lights, and cubicles stretching as far as the eye can see. Not exactly inspiring, is it?

In this article I’m going to delve into two ways we can live our lives and contrast a world of freedom and artistic expression with control and fear.

Now as an artist and a coach, the thought of creativity being squashed under a boardroom thumb chills me to the bone. It’s like replacing a vibrant Van Gogh with a corporate mission statement that reads: “Our values: obedience, conformity, and quarterly reports.” Doesn’t exactly inspire artistic expression, does it?

But here’s the thing, that’s not the story we were written into. We weren’t created to be mindless drones toiling away in some cosmic corporation. Seth Godin, in his book The Icarus Deception, reminds us that playing it safe is the real danger. We were born to fly, not file reports.

Remember the myth of Icarus? The one where Dad warns him not to fly too close to the sun? So his wings of wax doesn’t melt.

Well, we’ve been conditioned to believe that aiming high leads to disaster. But what if the real deception is the idea of “safe flight”? What if staying low, clinging to the status quo, is the true fall from grace?

In NZ we have this tall poppy syndrome. It means if you stand out too high from the rest you get your head chopped off. It creates a false humility designed to conform and definitely not to think too highly of yourself or aim for the stars.

The truth is, we are wired for connection, for the spark of creativity that ignites when we share our unique perspectives. Social media and corporations might try to clip our wings, turn our dreams into another product to be consumed, but we were born with the potential to soar.

Here’s the good news: a new generation of artists and free thinkers is rising.

We’re reclaiming our creative birthright, breaking free from the shackles of conformity. We are the artists, the entrepreneurs, the changemakers who refuse to be confined by soul-crushing corporate monotony and have our vibrant dreams dulled by limiting societal norms.

Let’s embrace the dream and let’s fly higher than ever before, past the limitations and doubts that hold us back. Let’s channel our inner artist, not some corporate spreadsheet.

I remember feeling trapped like that once, a cog in the corporate machine. But then, I dared to dream bigger. I explored my artistic side, rediscovering a passion for photography buried under the trap of a mortgage and salaried hand cuffs.

Today, my portraits grace the walls of palaces, parliaments, and residences around the world, a rebellion against the blandness of “God Inc.”

We all have that potential within us. It’s time to break free from the drab, bland and grey and embrace the vibrant symphony of human expression. Let’s paint a new masterpiece, together. But this isn’t just about creating art on a canvas. It’s about infusing our daily lives with a creative spark.

Remember: We are all creators, all capable of soaring beyond the limitations set by others. Let’s embrace the courage to fly high, and together, paint a masterpiece of a world that pulsates with the energy of a million dreams taking flight.

Do you crave a more meaningful life, one where you express your unique voice? There’s a powerful way to unleash your creativity and discover the artist within. Let’s explore it together. Send me a message.