You probably don't even realise, but your daily routine suffocates your true potential.

And in that way your joy in life. And freedom.

Let me share how I broke out. To finally live free.

It’s not just you.

We all are born into a prison of social conformity:

During our formative years, our survival impulse ensured bonding with our parents. By conforming to (their) social norms, routines and beliefs. And making them our own. (A good thing – after all we want to survive! We wouldn’t make it on our own.)

In a healthy individuation, we would grow up. And leave the conformity prison, and step into freedom – our individuality.

That’s not common sense. Many believe they are free, but don’t live free.

Instead, most conform to norms, beliefs, routines, and ideals – that sooner or later make them sick. Because

• they don’t live their own lives (but a routine) and
• many norms and beliefs are pathological (or simply redundant).

This conformism on autopilot feeds our bureaucratic and normopathic society. Proof: Look at public debt, health, and growing regulations.

What's normopathic?

Like the frog that gradually boils to death (19th century experiment), many conform to routines that slowly make them sick. Because that's "normal" in a society that has forgotten to live free with common sense. And instead is addicted to control through routines.

You can only leave prison if you know you are in it.

That was me.

I can remember that day in April 2019 like no other. From one day to the next, I woke up to the farce I had called my life. I had denied myself and blindly conformed to ideals, rules, routines and peer pressure. I chased success, performance, money, fitness, and obedience to an exploitative system. I had lived a lie. I hated it.

I realized I was lost in prison.

That day, I shook free my desire for freedom. A few days later I resigned from a 14-year investment banking career. When I handed my resignation in, I was shaking. Afraid. Anxious. I had no clue where my path would lead me.

I just knew I wanted to live free.

Now, most people are not aware of that driving force to conform.

I wasn't.

Which makes sense. After all, it's unconscious. Hence, Goethe's quote.

The unconscious thinking: “If I don’t conform, I’ll die, be expelled, starve to death, be ridiculed.” That fear suppresses your individuality. (Like mine). You don’t freely say what you want, do what you want, think what you want, when you want – but conform. (Watch this 3 min video for how that works.)

This is all happening “beneath the surface”.

How you experience it:

Either inwards: Feeling obligated to be different than you are:

You think you should change how you are:

• You should be “good, nice, successful, helpful, brave, smart, perfect, thin, muscular, spiritual, productive, free, grateful..."
• → So, you try to improve yourself. You might use affirmations, do healing, spiritual work, brain rewiring, belief work, etc.

But no matter the work, it’s never enough.

Result: Insecurity, heaviness, or pressure remain = chronic stress.

And, or outwards: Feeling obligated to do more stuff:

You think you should accomplish "more" outside results:

• You should have more money, success, followers, or a better career.
• You should have more security, better karma, or help more people.
• You should change the system, find more purpose, or convert others to the right beliefs.
• → So, you work hard to achieve more.

But even if you create what you planned, it’s not enough.

Result: Overwhelm, frustration, or lack of time remain = chronic stress.

Why?

Because the underlying motivation is 'should.'

The fallacy: how it is, how you are – is not okay. You/it should be different.

The consequence: you resist the present moment – as it is.

How that relates to you?

Take a moment and write down as honestly as you can:

1. How do you describe yourself to yourself: E.g. who are you? What makes you distinct? What trains or qualities (or lack thereof) define you?
2. How do you think you should be: E.g. what routines, ideals, traits, actions, and results should you have/accomplish?

These questions require intellectual honesty.

For most, the answers to 1) and 2) are quite different.

And that causes stress: You should be different from how you are.

The definition of suffering.

If you are stressed, that's going on every single time.

The prison of conformity. There is no way out.

That was my experience for years. I worked on a trading floor with a few hundred colleagues. I couldn’t name one happy person. Many complained openly about their job. But nobody changed. Everybody kept doing what they did. Including me. (My inner mantra: "I should be happy.")

It was insane. And I was wrong.

Of course, there is a way out.

It's realizing the subtle but profound difference between 'should' and 'want'.

'Should'

is action out of obligation. You have no choice. You must.

• Result: You are in prison. Within a hedonistic society dedicated to “buying things you don't need, with money you don't have, to impress people you don't like.” - Carsten Pötter

'Want'

is action out of freedom. You have a choice. You can do it or not.

• Result: True freedom – first inside, then more and more outside.

​

How do you do that?

It’s simple:

Letting go of conformity, by letting go of ALL ‘shoulds’.

Then you become present to what is:

Inner Freedom

Is unconditional and eternal. It's guaranteed, right here, right now. You can't earn it, deserve it, produce it, control it. You can only recognise it. As something that is eternally here. All the great sages point to it: Everybody has it – already. Few recognize it. Many search for it on the outside (“It should be different than it is”).

Once you realize that – all ‘shoulds’ crumble.

That’s exactly what happened to me. Suddenly, it seemed insane to lock me in a job I didn't like, spend 11 hours daily in an uncaring environment, and trade my soul for a few numbers on my bank account. The epiphany: I didn’t need to do any of that!

And I stopped. And came home.

What remains without 'shoulds' is simply you: with your heart and wants.

Following them – despite your circumstances – leads step by step to

Outer Freedom

That was my experiment:

First, to figure out what I wanted. Which took a while because I had buried that deep under a gazillion 'shoulds.' To then see what happens when I follow my heart and wants. It let me discover a whole different paradigm in life. And a life experience beyond my wildest imagination.

While not guaranteed, everyone can create outer freedom along the continuum of:

1. Freedom to do WHAT you love
2. Freedom to be WHERE you love
3. Freedom to be and work with WHOM you love
4. Freedom to do things WHEN you love
5. Freedom to do things HOW you love

At the core is recognising who you truly are. (it’s not the 'shoulds')

That's what you are here for: Your self actualization.

What started as an experiment led me to:

Ditching routine. And launching a podcast, creating a coaching business, building a family, moving to Mexico, working with the sweetest people, interviewing the brightest minds, leading journeys into the Amazon – and upgrading my office:

Why do I share this? Yes, I’m happy about it. But I’m not special.

I simply let go of my shoulds and followed my wants.

And so can you – if you want! 😀

That's what my flagship training, 'The Art of Creating 1,' is all about:

It encompasses the most powerful principles I learned over +15 years of creative self-actualization. And helped +100 clients step into their full creative power. It leads you to master intuition, creativity, and manifestation. And create a life with joy, purpose, and freedom.

"I’d recommend Simon’s workshop to anyone on the path of self discovery. He will help you to open your mind and heart and rediscover the genius that is already within you.“ - Diana Davis

I run the 7-week course this Decembre again: >> Get more info & tickets here.​

You can also:

Join my upcoming Free Webinar to see if it's for you. And accelerate your creative empowerment. No strings attached.

Free Webinar - The Blueprint to Unlock Your Creative Power and Freedom Experience a life with joy, purpose, and presence ​ ☑ Stop living life on autopilot: Create your life, your way. ☑ Cut through the noise for sustainable change: Find a path that lasts. ☑ Find your creative power that can shape your future, forever. ​ This is a transformative and interactive live training. Take this unique opportunity and step into your freedom! Webinar: Nov 24th, 2024, from 4-7 pm CET (10 am-1 pm EST) ​ >>> Join the free webinar

I love hearing back from you and am curious about your insights from this newsletter.

Let's create together,
Simon

PS. Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

​#1 Check out my podcast. You'll learn from independent leaders and free thinkers how to be true to yourself. And lead a free, inspired, and meaningful life.

​#2 ​Join my 7-week course the Art of Creating 1​. To master intuition, creativity, and manifestation. And create a life you love.

​#3 Book me as a coach or consultant. We go deep into what is holding you back. And what it is that you want to create. Then we establish the strategies to make that happen.