Bliss of Innocent Expression

Poet / Parent / Professor / Philosopher? - this used to be my introduction line for many years.?

About four years back, I started professional coaching, and then that identity got added as well.?

So why am I telling you this? Because this morning the poet resurfaced again, and she brought with her so much joy, innocence, and freedom that I actually felt a beautiful homecoming of sorts.?

I also felt that, lately, I had not created enough time and space in my life for her to surface more often.?

I realized that while the poetess can and often does intersect with the professor or the philosopher, she also carries a current of her own. A ray of her own light - unlike any of the other avatars or identities of mine. A ray that is unconcerned with any other agenda or intent other than to simply express outside - what might be unfolding inside.?

You see, I have been writing poems since I was five. Most five-year-olds have no concept or notion of intentionally helping or serving others. They also don't care that much about what or how a reader or audience will interpret their expression. They simply express themselves because they want to.

This is the innocence that still stays alive in me as a poetess.?

When I started training to become a coach, I learned from the most wonderful teachers. These teachers taught me about the power of service and the joy and energy that we can tap into when we step into a service mindset.?

I was a good student, and I put this learning to use right away. And as I put it to use, I also started reaping the benefits of it right away. The benefits came as joy, as meaning, as satisfaction, as focus, as divine help, as student feedback, as gratitude, as client testimonials, as repeat customers, and as abundant compensation and income.?

I was truly grateful. I had struck gold - I am truly grateful. I have struck gold!

As I extended the service mindset from my coaching work into my teaching work, I struck gold there too. I then extended it to my social media posts and YouTube channel. I struck gold there too. I was happy. I kept on creating. I kept on writing. I kept on making videos.

As a cue to stepping into the service mindset, I had created a simple internal mantra/question.?Before any class, workshop, coaching call, or creation (video, piece of writing etc.), I would ask -

“What will serve ______ in the highest way possible for the purpose of ______” .

The first blank would be filled with the name of the particular coachee, client group, student group, or target audience, and the second blank would be filled with the purpose or agenda, or topic of that particular class, session, or workshop. I sometimes also additionally ask for guidance to express myself in a way that the particular audience can best understand or receive.?

This is a powerful mantra/question/system to use, and it continues to serve me brilliantly. After I ask this question, I just let whatever needs to flow through me flow.

I have nothing against this form of creation, except that somewhere this ended up crowding out the agendaless expression of the innocent poetess - The one who wrote, just because something had started to flow through her. The one who spoke, just because something had started to speak through her.?

And it was this poetess that reminded me of the joy of simple expression today. Innocent expression, without an agenda, without any noble purpose, without any sense of duty.?

Just writing what is asking to be written - just speaking what is asking to be spoken.?

I might not do it all the time, but at least once in a while.?

Because this is a different kind of bliss in itself. And it gives me access to a different part of me.?

Bliss of innocent expression

I am coming home again

To simple joys of expression

By putting pen to paper

Or enjoying my own oration

.

I do it just for myself

A journey of unfolding

Simply expressing outside

What inside I am beholding

.

If it can serve another

Then that is even better

Perhaps it serves today

Or perhaps sometime later

.

Yet the very act of expression?

Holds it own completion

In my mind and heart

And in my poetic vision

.

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Read more poems in my poetic compilation at https://amzn.to/3VR0jx8