Your Interests Are The Way // Sam Lewis aka SLEW
Living an authentic life can feel like a vague concept rather than a lived experience and reality.
Many of us come from cultures, environments, families, and backgrounds that tried to put us on someone else’s path instead of nurturing our own way. We want safety, stability, comfort. We are taught that deviating from the “normal” paths of life cannot provide this. But in the dawn of the Internet era, actualizing “anything is possible” is more accessible to more people than ever before.
Videographer, fine artist, and YouTuber, Sam Lewis (better known on the Internet as SLEW) and I dissected Sam’s journey to living authentically and being a successful YouTuber and full-time artist (both of which are interdependent) and boy do I have something to share!
Image via As It Goes 042 // Art in Our Human Experience with Sam Lewis aka SLEW
Our definition for success here (note: we’re made own definition of success) is self-reliance and self-sufficiency - as I frame it in our conversation with a quote from psychoanalyst Carl Jung, “You must fulfill the way that is in you” - being able to fulfill that and fulfill our needs. It’s not about numbers, clout, or anything superficial. What we’re talking about here is much deeper.
We’re talking about: Are you cool with yourself and your choices when your head hits the pillow at night?
And if not, it is in your control (and only your control) to do something about that. Interrupt the flow of accepting not loving your life and do something different, anything. Demand more of life than the work, eat, sleep, entertainment cycle we’ve been fed as “life.” The way to start… follow your interests (they’re telling you not just the way but your way).
A common misconception is that living authentically and fulfilling our needs are antitheses; that you can’t have both.
Well… we see it happen all the time with others. That is what I see and feel Sam is living, regardless of how uncertain it can feel when actually being the one living it (that’s always part of the journey regardless of whether it’s authentic or inauthentic).
So why not you?
Maybe you feel unskilled at what it is you truly wish to do (as if you’re missing pieces of the puzzle, perhaps you don’t even know what those pieces look like) or are uncertain about how to be self-sufficient in actualizing an authentic life for yourself.
I once read, “the path is illuminated with each step and not a moment before.” I’ve found this to be true in the most authentic, pure, and beautiful way. The point: start. Now. We don’t get to have all the pieces when we start; that would defeat the purpose.
A loving reminder that Sam and I discuss in this clip - if you have a fear that when you get old you will be filled with regret, then that is your body and soul telling you to get going on what it is that truly sparks joy, fulfillment, and meaning in your life.
There was a clear formula to living an authentic life and discovering your way that surfaced in what Sam shared in our conversation. Here it is.
Follow Your Interests (🗝 = these are by you and for you, coming from within yourself, and are uninfluenced by anything outside of your self)
Identify (These are great journalling prompts. Bonus: Determine a action you will take based on what you write down)
What do I really like?
What do I actually like doing?
What am I interested in?
What am I curious about in the world?
How might my mindset, thoughts, and outlook be holding me back from exploring my interests with more curiosity and dedication (as in respecting the value of myself and my interests)?
Utilize our MINDSET workshop to eradicate thinking that’s holding you back and restore openness in your mindset. In fact, begin now at no cost.
What manual next-step have I yet to take when it comes to exploring or pursuing my interests on a deeper level?
Give Space & Make Space
To follow and lean into curiosity when it’s sparked, even if it seems “unproductive”
To put time into those interests you’ve identified that spark passion
Create a nurturing environment in your self, schedule, and life that fosters authentic discovery and expression (as a parent would for a child… as you do in your self-parent role)
Eliminate Wasting Your Own Time
On inauthentic, draining activities and people
That reflects someone else’s values or life goals
That antagonize your character, values, and who you want to be
That reward instant gratification (rather than long-term, delayed gratification which is essential in building anything, including your own life… think $20 in two weeks vs. $2 right now)
Reflect on any maladaptive coping mechanisms that may be holding you back like scrolling on social media from anxiety and boredom (boredom is necessary fertile grounds here), spending time with unaligned people from loneliness and fear of missing out, or alcohol/drug use preventing you from being your most healthy and optimal self to name a few
Be Curious & Open
Embrace your inner child - channel your childish, whimsical, curious, open, inspired, pure, and untamed nature
Suspend who you think you are and have to be
Try new things
Experience other things than your day-in-day-out “rigmarole” of life, your job, and what’s “normal” amongst your friends and family… in fact, be open to new and different people from all walks of life!
Use Your Time on Your Interests & Nurture Them
Surrender to and own what you enjoy
Do those things you really like, you actually like doing and are curious about more
Do them a lot
Do them wrong
Eventually you will do it more and more “right” and more and more like yourself
Follow What Comes Next
Flow with the phases of your interests
Stumble into other interests and curiosities that arise
Follow the breadcrumb trail (to your authentic life) and don’t stop
And as you do… “The doors will open.” - Sam Lewis
Image via @bad_robot on Twitter
Remember it’s a process; when we lean into that truth we surrender and flow so that we can enjoy it, keeping in mind the wisdom of Miles Davis above. There’s so much to discover and learn, so many skills to acquire and build on. All we have to do is keep with it and if we do, authenticity is manifest from within ourselves into our lives. (Manifest because it’s always been within us, like seeds, waiting for us to water and nourish them so they can bloom.)
Sam’s flourishing on his own, self-made path is not the norm where we’re from (we both attended the same school in Connecticut basically priming kids K-12 for jobs in finance and puffer coats… Hasan Minhaj hits the nail on the head 11:38 into this clip). That’s not to dismiss the privilege of a great education, more-so a reflection on how we define “a great education.” If we aspire to set children up for the best possible future in which all of their needs are met, then the best way to do so is by nurturing their unique skills and interests so they can authentically live and contribute to their communities, while fulfilling their holistic needs (mind, body, soul, and wholeness).
For those of us who are grown (numerically speaking because we’re never done growing) then the pleasure (and meaningful responsibility) is ours to discover and nurture these interests in ourselves by assuming that self-leader role that allows us to tap into the part of us that can guide us, trust in us, motivate us, create loving discipline, and walk confidently in the direction of our dreams.
We mentioned the (inner) parent-child dynamic here. We let our inner child run free to explore, discover, and play in the joy of this life-long process. As our inner parent, we create the best environment within and throughout for our inner child to do so (supportive self-dialogue, friends, etc.). The inner child plays; the inner parent assumes the responsibility to actualize and nurture that play and potential into an authentic path, life, and self-sufficiency.
Those, like Sam, who take (and make) their own way despite their environment's messaging are mirrors: anything is possible. When we trust ourselves, clear out what isn’t ours that we are carrying within, and follow our own path… you “fulfill the way that is in you.”
Listen to our conversation with Sam on As It Goes
Connect with Sam on his website: www.slewniverse.com
Subscribe to his YouTube channel: SLEW
And on Instagram @slewp
