Many people have approached me to ask me why I do what I do, what inspired me to start and how my creative process works in relation to all the content that I put out. Whether it be weekly articles, a film, photography, design, social media influence or the clothing brand, there is a unifying theme that hits each of these things and drives my creative process. But why do I do it? Why did I decide that making videos, reposting quotes, celebrating others through a clothing brand and other mediums was important? Well, there are two answers to this question, and both are important.

Firstly, I have always been a creative person. Since I was young, I always tried to make things out of new materials and try to come up with something new, something that was mine. I enjoyed solving problems, not always in the most straightforward way, but in ways that I could experiment with. As I grew older, I began not only to ask questions of what could I create with my hands, but also with my mind. I found myself increasingly interested in why we did things the way we did, and if there was perhaps an alternative way to understand and see the world we lived in. I remember quite vividly thinking to myself when I was younger that I wanted to celebrate experiences that brought people joy. I never knew how to do it, but I knew I wanted it. I would see the joy that people experienced when they made something unique, something that was their own, and while they were several years older than me, something about the way their passion translated into the work they put out really inspired me. At the time, I never thought I’d be making videos, or writing weekly articles. All I knew is what inspired me. I knew the kind of joy I wanted to feel when I did something that was my own.

An interesting fact about this part of my life is that I always questioned it. I seemed to think I was the only one with these ideas and visions. There would even be times where I’d try to convince myself that they were not real, because “that’s not how the world worked.” It was a part of my identity that I kept to myself, although those that know me best will know that I have always been a “dreamer” of sorts. At this point I had started to develop an identity not only as a person, but as a creative type – and as any creative type will know, it’s not an easy process. In a strange way, the chaos of thinking creatively and wanting to put out creative content is in fact what generates ideas, at least for me. It is the ultimate form of problem solving, because whatever your solution is, becomes a statement about how you think. It seemed clear to me that I wanted to create content, the question of what to create was the struggle. But my desire to find creative outlets was not the only thing that sparked the fire that began the work I do now. There was more… much more.

In addition to my creative nature, I began to become aware of my life experiences. I began to reflect on life, on the people I was meeting, and I found myself not only interested in what I was doing, but increasingly interested in what other people were doing. When they shared their stories, and started to open up about the ideas and visions that they had, I began to realize that I was not the only person who thought the way I did. It became clear to me that the beauty of the world we live in exists within each of us. I finally began to understand that having your own visions for what you want from your life is what makes the world we live in so unique. The story of the world is written by the passions and aspirations that are inside us. Each dream, each passion leaves a legacy in the world, enriching our overall experience. We each have something that makes us unique, and when you speak to people about what makes them special, or find out about what it is that they do in order to navigate their life, you find inspiration in their journey. You find that everyone is going through a similar struggle to fulfill their own dreams. This concept really inspired me. It struck a chord that made things so clear, the missing puzzle piece. I think it’s human nature to have dreams of who you want to become, it’s just about balance and timing. The dreams always come first, the tools to get there develop with you as you go.

As I became aware of my peers’ growth, I really started to appreciate this new wave of ambition, drive, and innovation I was noticing. People started doing incredible things with their lives, and not only in creative media and design, but also in regards to entrepreneurship, fashion, authorship, music production … people started to let their dreams show, and tell the world who they were. Not only was their work amazing, but I could sense the passion, and see how much joy and happiness they were feeling by doing the things they truly loved. They began to develop an identity because they were being authentic to who they had always been, the only difference is now they were sharing it with everyone. That was the exact moment that inspired me to do what I do now. I had the creative side of me which had been developing for years, and now I had a reason to use it for a bigger purpose. Now I could do something I loved not only for me, but for everyone. I could use my interests to tell the world the interests of others. That is why I do what I do.

There is one moment in everyone’s journey that we all share in common. It’s that mental barrier between wanting to do something, and actually starting to do it. We all reach it at different times, but we all go through it. Some people spend more time than others at this barrier, the reasons for which can be personal, but are also tied to a culture we have built around what society expects of us. The things we have to do to fit into the formula for success, rather than to build a life around the things we love to feel successful.

Through my content I strive to help people realize this difference. I strive to remind people that their passions in life matter. Their dreams are not unattainable. Through my content, I try to be the voice that I needed to hear when I was younger and all my ideas seemed insignificant and invalid. I wish a voice had told me that what I was going through was not me going crazy, but was me building my identity. So if you have this idea that you’re afraid of following, please follow it. If you have a dream of who you want to be but it does not align with society’s standards, please follow it. I urge you to ask yourselves objectively “Who am I? What do I care about? What inspires me? What motivates me?” and be honest with yourself. If the answer is crazy, do it anyway. The interesting thing about life is that you are already on a journey. You already have passions, you already have goals, you already have an identity. They’ve been developing since you were born. The question is, are you willing to allow them to come through, and show the world who you really are. If you don’t, you will spend your life fighting against who you truly are.

So why do I create content? I create because I believe the world is in fact a beautiful place, and that on its own is something to celebrate. I create because I think that through positive content we can remind ourselves of the strength we have as humans not only to change our own lives, but those around us. I create because I believe in the power of storytelling – letting the world know who its citizens are, and how amazing they can be when they follow their hearts and passions. I create because it gives me a sense of purpose. I create content because through the work I do I get to celebrate other people. I get to experience the passion with artists I work with. I get to buy the products from brands that my friends have started. I get to learn about the struggles each of us goes through, and help people overcome them. I create content, to create a positive culture – one in which everyone can feel confident in who they want to become.

My favorite part of creating however, is that I never know what I’ll do next, and for me, that’s the most exciting part.

Believe in the power of your dreams…#zuluechoinitiative