In short
Podcast Notes: The Daily Motivation - Episode 1617
Episode Title
"Vulnerability Is Scary As F* But So Worth It" - You Can Heal Through Creativity w/ IN-Q**
Episode Description
In this episode, Adam "In-Q" shares his journey of embracing vulnerability and authenticity through creativity. He discusses the fear of rejection and the importance of self-expression, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own fears and the freedom that comes from living authentically.
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Key Themes and Concepts
- Vulnerability and Authenticity
- Personal Journey: Adam shares his struggle with vulnerability and the fear of being rejected if he revealed his true self.
- Embracing Radical Authenticity: The importance of sharing one's genuine self despite fears of judgment.
- Fear of Rejection
- Crippling Fear: Adam discusses how the fear of rejection prevented him from sharing his art and experiences.
- Overcoming Fear: The courage to embrace one’s authentic self is highlighted as a transformative experience.
- Creativity as Healing
- Art as Self-Expression: The process of creating art can be a healing journey that allows individuals to confront their fears and pain.
- Reflection on Pain: Adam encourages listeners to reflect on their own emotional struggles and how these experiences shape their identities.
- Integration of Pain
- Acceptance of Pain: Lewis Howes emphasizes that pain is a part of one's identity and must be accepted to move forward.
- Alchemizing Experience: Transforming painful experiences into something meaningful and part of one's narrative.
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Key Takeaways
- Courage to Share: True courage lies in the willingness to share personal struggles and vulnerabilities, as it fosters connection and understanding.
- Authenticity Over Approval: Adam points out the importance of valuing authenticity over seeking approval from others.
- Fear of Judgment vs. Freedom: The episode discusses the conflict between the fear of judgment and the liberation that comes from being true to oneself.
- Personal Reflection: Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own fears and consider what living authentically means for them.
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Discussion Points
- Artistic Expression: The challenges and fears associated with sharing personal art or narratives that incorporate pain and vulnerability.
- Personal Stories: Lewis and Adam share their experiences of hesitating to share their work due to fear of external validation affecting their self-worth.
- Importance of Support: The role of supportive friends and mentors in helping individuals take the leap to share their work.
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Conclusion The conversation between Lewis Howes and Adam "In-Q" serves as an empowering reminder that embracing vulnerability and authenticity is crucial for personal growth and connection. The episode encourages listeners to confront their fears and strive for a life of creative freedom.
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Call to Action
- Engagement: Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast by subscribing, leaving reviews, and signing up for the Greatness newsletter for more motivational content.
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Links
- [Listen to the Full Episode](https://link.chtbl.com/1617-pod)
- [Sign up for the Greatness Newsletter](https://info.lewishowes.com/newsletter?source=podcast-post-roll)
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This detailed summary encapsulates the episode’s core discussions and themes, offering insights into the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in creative expression.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Hi, my name is Lewis Howes and welcome to the Daily Motivation Show.
0:11I don't like to compare circumstances. I don't like to compare pain, but I've had a lot of pain in my life. And everything that caused me pain is a part of my identity now. So if I reject that thing, I'm rejecting a part of who I am. Yeah. And so you have to accept it in order to integrate it, in order to alchemize it, in order to move on with it. what's the most painful thing that you've had to overcome emotionally or internally that maybe took you a long time to overcome, or maybe it just was a really painful thing to overcome, and you really wish didn't happen in the moment, and maybe you still don't wish, but you know you wouldn't be the identity you are and the man you are without that pain.
0:56I think there's a lot of them that come to mind. I'm not going to share some of them because I'm not ready to put them on display yet. You know, when I created the Never Ending Now album, I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted anybody to hear it. You know? I was there, yeah. Because you were one of the few people that I sent it to and was willing to trust because of your integrity, because of our friendship, and because I love you. And I know you've been through real things. Yeah. But it's scary putting it out there. A hundred percent. Yeah. I'm taking my own medicine, you know? So I was like, all right, let me, I finished this thing, this work of art that was like a reflection of my path to self-love and love with a partner through poetry.
1:41And this conversation that was very intimate that I had with my wife. And then I was like, I don't know that I want to show this to people or even weirder, monetize this thing and leave it open for people to criticize it, to judge it, to validate it, to compliment it. It didn't really matter what their response was. I didn't want to externalize my self-worth that way because it was so close to my heart. And then I was like, all right, I'm going to send it to like five people. and I sent it to five people uh including you and uh Mike Posner who's a great friend and Mike was the first person that got back to me and my criteria for sending it out was okay if one person hears the album and hits me back and says hey this was moving and meaningful to me this landed then I would put it out but if everybody was like yeah this is good I really like it I think you should then I wasn't going to do it and so Mike hit me back right away and he was like if you don't put this album out he said I'll pry it out of your cold dead hands and then I sent it to you guys and you listened to it and had a similar but different response then I was like alright let me lead by example even though it's hard and scary why is it so hard for most people to put out something that is their art or their expression, but also has sadness, pain, loss, embarrassment tied to it in some way.
3:18Because they're scared to be rejected for truly showing us who they are. But the thing is, like, if I get rejected, if I put this project out and people don't respond to it, or worse, they really don't like it, then at least I know they don't like something that's really me. I mean, I know that the art is separate from me. It's not really me, but it is as close as tracing paper could come when I made it. Right. And so I'm like, all right, if they don't like it, at least I know I showed up. Rather than making something that's perfect, that everybody's going to love. and then they say, wow, I love this thing and I love you, but I don't even feel it because I was never there.
4:12It wasn't fully authentic. It wasn't fully you. Yeah. Interesting. How do you do that? Like, for example, I was thinking about many things that you have shared over the years, striving over here, and the courage that it took to do that. Well, what was and is your process? I think a lot of it was when I started opening up about vulnerable things to individuals, to friends, to family, and then kind of publicly, you know, my expression to the world in different ways. This line from like Jim Carrey comes to me where it's like depression is like you needing deep rest from the character you've been playing.
4:48Something like that. It's like you are depressed because you need deep rest from the character you've been playing. It's like you've been wearing some mask, you've been putting on some identity that's not truly you. Maybe parts of you are out there, but not all of you. And so a lot of me was out there, but there were other parts of me that were afraid if you or anyone actually knew who I was, what I'd been through, what had happened to me, would anyone like me or love me? And that was the ultimate fear. If people truly knew, they would never like me. And then I would be alone. And then I would die alone and suffer for the rest of my life.
5:23It's kind of the fear that I had. And so I think I I just felt like I'd rather be alone and know a like me than everyone know just parts of me and not all of me. And I think it got to that point when I hit 30 that I realized there were parts of me that people weren't aware of. And I wasn't willing to face them myself, let alone share them with other people. And that just wasn't the life I wanted to live anymore. But I think that's the risk probably every artist has to take to put their expression out there, that you may not be liked or understood or loved. You may be criticized or hated or whatever might be taken advantage of for who you truly are.
6:05And I think that's the biggest fear. But I'd rather feel free and have no friends than be a prisoner and have everyone like me.
6:18Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of The Daily Motivation, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to click the link in the description. That will take you to the full episode of our main podcast on The School of Greatness. And if you are loving the daily motivation, please follow us over on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and leave us a review over on Apple Podcasts right now. And if you want more exclusive content and ad-free listening experience, make sure to subscribe to our Greatness Plus channel on Apple Podcasts right now. And if you want to get even more inspiration from our world-class guests and learn how to improve your life and take it to the next level, then make sure to sign up for the Greatness newsletter and get it delivered right to your inbox over at greatness.com slash newsletter.
7:12Again, have an amazing day, and I'll see you tomorrow with another episode of the Daily Motivation Show.
From the publisher
Have you listened to the FULL EPISODE yet?
In a profound and candid interview, Adam "In-Q" shared his deeply personal journey of self-expression and the vulnerability it takes to bare one's true self to the world. He opened up about the crippling fear of rejection that once held him back from sharing his authentic art and experiences, worried that if people truly knew him, they would never accept or love him. Adam's courage to push past this fear and embrace radical authenticity is both inspiring and thought-provoking.
By revealing the raw pain and struggles that shaped his identity, Adam invites listeners to reflect on their own fears and consider what it would mean to live and create from a place of complete freedom. This captivating conversation will leave you craving more of Adam's hard-won wisdom on embracing all facets of yourself without compromise.
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