Originality and innovation are the product of a free mind

Originality, and perhaps innovation, can only be the product of a free mind. A mind that has somehow broken the invisible chains, or walls if you will, that keep us prisoners in our own self-limited world.

I was reflecting on this the other day while listening, for the millionth time, to the guitar solo Eddie Van Halen performed in "Beat It" by Michael Jackson.

Not everybody knows this guitar solo is one of the most innovative, original, and remarkable solos in the history of rock music, and it's recorded on a pop song! 99% of guitarists my age, including myself, have tried to play it. Perhaps 10% have succeeded, but no more than 1% can play it in a "credible" way.

This is because that 30-second guitar line breaks all the rules of sound, harmony, and rhythm.

When the solo starts, the sound you hear could be anything but a guitar. The phrasing is extremely melodic, yet it's impossible to sing. From a rhythmic point of view, it's a feast for the ears, and a nightmare for the hands! The left hand must jump from one fret to another on the extreme sides of the guitar neck, while the right hand should be that of a drummer, rather than a guitarist.

This is to say that no other guitar player could have done something like this, at least, not following the guitar tradition. Eddie Van Halen was a musical genius because, in his hands, a guitar was not simply a musical instrument, but rather a tool to express a unique worldview.

https://youtu.be/oRdxUFDoQe0?si=5oMgAi6Er3vEKn_b

I can't help but think that every human being has a bit of genius, which is suffocated by an invisible, mental "real estate" he or she is afraid of leaving.

I've noticed this in my own personal life; all the breakthroughs happened once I decided, mostly driven by intense unhappiness and frustration, that I had to break free from a situation or a rule.

For example, I met my wife when I quit what I thought was my dream job (and the one that allowed me to enter the luxury industry) for the unknown: for the dream of moving to Brazil with my brother and opening a "pousada." Looking back, I now realize I was trying to escape a life that didn't resemble me. I had created a character that would fit the corporate world, but not my internal world. And after years of struggle, my intuition led me to do something extreme. Brazil was the furthest destination available, and running a B&B the least suitable job for an ambitious young man who wanted to see the world.

And yet, had I not experienced that minute of total freedom, I wouldn't have met the person who - 20 happy years and 2 children later - I can safely say changed my life.

I mentioned the word intuition, and the more I reflect on it, the more I define it, or I should better say frame it, as a spark of freedom of the mind.

It's a space the mind reclaims to be whole, to go beyond the invisible walls we've built in it.

Unsurprisingly, intuition speaks louder when life presents challenges.

Many people say they found freedom when they learned they were terminally ill.

But if you are ready to listen, intuition whispers every day. It takes a free mind to hear it.

I've made a decision, one I am sure will yield results with time. From now on, I'll challenge my own rules, my sense of guilt, my (relentless) work ethic, and my worldview. I'll do it in small bites, but every single day.

I'm committed to training my mind to explore and taste freedom. I do it because I suspect it will help me see opportunities I can't yet see.

I think it will also help me live more authentically, to create a life that resonates with my deepest self, and in doing so, I trust I will not only find personal fulfillment but also inspire those around me to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and freedom. This path may not always be easy, but I feel it will be rewarding, as it leads me to not just witness but actively participate in the unfolding of my greatest potential.

Now, I extend an invitation to you, the reader.

Ask yourself: Are you living with the freedom you truly deserve? If not, why? Are you open to exploring freedom in your life and in your mind? These are profound questions that can lead to transformative changes.

I commit to sharing my progress as I explore this path of freedom and self-discovery, and I invite you to do the same. Let’s embark on this journey together, sharing our experiences and insights, as we unlock the immense potential that lies within each of us.