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Cast your mind back to when you were seven. What did you want to be when you grew up? For me, it was to be a popstar. I wanted to sing and connect with people through my songs, and I really, ever so badly, wanted to perform on Hey Hey It’s Saturday. That was going to be my measure of success. Alas, the show ended, and it’s safe to say that I cried myself to sleep for 2 days straight, knowing that dream wouldn’t be realised. It seemed like the end of the world at the time. My vulnerability back then was in full swing. I was happy to sing pop songs, even though the boys at school were all in rock bands, I wrote about my feelings, a lot! I truly believed I’d be famous. And then somewhere, between the ages of 18 and 28, I completely forgot to let my inside, out. During this period of time, I hopped from uni degree to uni degree, I moved countries and back again and I stayed in jobs that didn’t make me happy in the end. I stopped listening to my inner child. When she’d come up with creative ideas for work projects, I’d shut her up with fear, self doubt and over-analysis. Don’t get me wrong, I had INCREDIBLE experiences, where I grew as a person and learnt a lot about myself, but ultimately I wasn’t completely connected to this bit inside, somewhere between the rib cages. I never really felt like I knew what I wanted or should be doing. I essentially, cruised on through the opportunities, floating in, and doing a great job of whatever it was in front of me, but never feeling like I was completely ‘there’ with the decision. This was because, I’d never asked myself the important questions like, who am I? What do I actually love? What’s at my core? How do I want people to feel when they’re around me? Now I’m not saying that I’m going to be releasing my debut album after this article. As I’ve come to know myself more, I would never have been a great popstar. That’s not what that dream was about. Wanting to be a popstar was about wanting to be creative, to connect with people and share my voice in a way that influences and impacts others, to be whatever it was that I wanted to be, and that creative element has stayed in me since then, just a little deeper down then when I was seven. Are we all aware of what our own inner child was telling us, or have many of us enrolled in Arts, Law and Commerce degrees (or already working in them) but not really sure what it is that we love? I believe it’s really important, in our final years of high school, when we have to make all of these important decisions about the rest of our lives, that we slow down and take some time to understand who we are. There’s so much pressure, to get amazing grades, enrol in courses that will shape our employment, that do we, or our children, really know what they want. Can parents see a child’s true potential, and is that harnessed and developed? Do enough of us have the vulnerability and bravery to say, “hey, this course actually isn’t for me anymore”? Or, “well I did it, but now I’m going to do something else”? Having a greater sense of self awareness, allows us to be better people. We will be able to strip away more of the bullshit, and have real, authentic conversations with ourselves and the people around us. We will know more about how we can make something great, rather than singing from someone else’s hymn book our whole lives. The Inside Out Hub encourages people to let their inside, out. Through the book and workshops, or even through these articles, I hope people get to see their inside more often. So what do these insides look like? Are they icky and covered in guts? No, quite the opposite. Your insides are illuminating, and one of a kind. They’re incredibly valuable, worthy of seeing light, rather than being kept in the darkness next to last night’s meal. So cast your mind back to your seven year old self. What did she or he dream of being? Are you even remotely close to that now? If you are, then my metaphorical hat is tipped for you. If you’re not, then reach in and let your inside out! Inside Out Hub is for anyone wanting to learn more about self-awareness, creativity and how to let their inside, out! Workshops and resources for High School and University students to gain more awareness to support career development and confidence. For more info on Inside Out Hub, visit: www.insideouthub.com.au

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