Since its premiere in 1950, Akira Kurosawa’s film Rashomon has symbolized the subjectivity of truth. The movie illustrates how our surroundings shape our individual perspectives. However, the frame becomes far too small when we try to define ourselves.
Recent events in my life forced me to look at my path differently. I now see that one big truth connects all of our fragmented experiences.
Finding Professional Freedom
My career began in copywriting. Over time, I felt a strong urge to plan and lead projects instead of just writing them. Therefore, I took on a diverse series of tasks and roles. Curiosity quickly drove me to analyze different leadership types. I wanted to understand the deep motivations behind human behavior in business.
This holistic approach successfully bridged the gap between personal ethics and business goals. My work focused heavily on core values, respectful communication, and genuine appreciation. Soon, this distinct mindset began attracting creative people and unconventional projects. I naturally connected with inspiring brands and forward-thinking creators.
I worked closely with company founders to bridge messy gaps between departments. My daily role involved managing both rational operations and unpredictable creative processes. Navigating cultural differences and protecting out-of-the-box ideas became my specialty. Early on, I recognized the immense power of authenticity. This realization inspired the name of my business: THE FRANKLY SPEAKING.
Despite spending most of my career freelancing—a path that built my deep self-discipline and rigorous planning skills—I regularly faced negative, outdated opinions. People often view a freelancer as “jobless” or a “hopeless multitasker.” Others dismiss them as an “overachiever” or a “small entrepreneur.” These limiting stereotypes frequently threatened to box in my true potential. For me, the most vital part of the journey was simply being free.
History actually supports this liberating philosophy. Sir Walter Scott first used the term ‘freelance’ in his famous book Ivanhoe, referring to a lord’s paid army of ‘free lances.’ In the early 1800s, the word designated a medieval mercenary warrior who offered their skills to whoever paid them the most. In a modern sense, I do the exact same thing. I offer top-tier strategies and tailored solutions to any brand that seeks my help. The journey toward this mindset brought many intense struggles, but my stubbornness helped me overcome every single obstacle. The excellent results proved that this unconventional path fits me perfectly. Fully embracing the freelance mindset proved that this unconventional path fits me perfectly.
The Evolution of Personal Liberty
While practicing professional freedom, my personal life tested my definition of liberty. I struggled to explain my unique emotional needs to others. The desire to be free did not mean I wanted an open relationship, nor did it mean I feared deep commitment. Instead, I wanted to prove that fierce independence and devotion can coexist. Sadly, I ran away whenever heavy confrontation arose.
People loved my professional work but judged my personal choices harshly. Eventually, I admitted my true desires to myself, and the tides turned. I started meeting new people who mirrored my energy. Critics often told me I had “too much personality” or “thought too much.” Rather than shrinking, I turned those criticisms into strengths to propel myself forward. I entirely refused to compromise my essence.
These personal difficulties shaped my current happiness and freedom. Today, I speak my mind openly, live autonomously, and commit to what I want. True liberty requires an immense level of personal responsibility and discipline. Many people who avoid solo paths do not realize this fact. Building a loving partnership requires you to face your deepest fears. Sometimes, you must stand still and accept the present moment exactly as it is. This hard work eventually helps you find your true self.
A Turning Point and Radical Solitude
Recently, I found fresh motivation from powerful books and media. Bernardine Evaristo’s Manifesto inspired my determination to never give up. I also learned a great deal from Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act and The Andy Warhol Diaries on Netflix. These stories helped me redefine creativity in my daily life and rediscover the freelance mindset.
At work, I faced a manipulative and highly unethical leadership style. At the same time, a personal relationship brought constant, painful judgment. These negative experiences pushed me to a major turning point. I learned a new way to be a true freelance warrior in modern society: you hold the ultimate power to lift yourself up. No physical, emotional, or financial low can stop your progression.
Remaining authentic required me to set strict boundaries. To navigate these massive changes, I needed total, quiet isolation. I consciously stepped away from my social life, friends, and family. This solitary time allowed me to be brutally honest with my own heart. During this period, I realized that human nature is inherently creative. True freedom lives entirely in unrestricted self-expression.
This internal breakthrough led to new partnerships built on mutual trust. Life deliberately presents challenges to make us resilient and unstoppable. No one actively enjoys struggling; even so, friction builds our character. I learned that lying to yourself leads straight to misery. Therefore, I cut off small-minded people and chronic gossipers. I walked away from those who judge or compare themselves to others. I set firm boundaries, even when people labeled me as unstable. Because I relied entirely on myself, I knew I would succeed. Soon, life rewarded me with supportive, wonderful people who cheered for my journey of searching, fighting, and dancing.
Feedback and Self-Belief
Letting go of external opinions posed a great challenge. For years, I depended heavily on public validation to measure my worth. I love receiving data on my performance, and I gladly give insights to others. However, we must separate helpful growth feedback from manipulative criticism. Growth requires constructive insights, but you must maintain a clear personal vision to avoid inheriting the limitations of others.
Turning high ambition into real action requires deep self-belief and absolute focus. A positive attitude keeps you moving forward through the dark. By staying resilient during my latest upheaval, I became much stronger. Your path clarifies the moment your purpose aligns with original work. We owe it to ourselves to nurture our own growth. Each victory strengthens our commitment to our personal mission.
The word Rashomon means more than just a complex situation with multiple perspectives. The literal Japanese characters translate to “a gatehouse at the city gate.” I spent half of my summer in the woods to pass through my own metaphorical gate. This quiet time allowed me to reset my system and plan my next steps. Moving frequently throughout my life gave me high mental agility, which fits my journey toward true freedom perfectly.
Defining What Home Truly Means
My search for a sense of home forced me to embrace every difficult test. I converted these daily difficulties into creative fuel. Today, I call several different places in the world home. Home is not a fixed physical coordinate. Instead, it is a state of being where like-minded people surround you.
Your psychological ecosystem depends heavily on your environment. You must find suitable companions who champion your creative flow, even with mundane, non-artistic tasks. A thriving environment allows everyone to create and share freely. This alignment always begins with your own choices.
I am not the exact same person I was yesterday, and I will likely change again tomorrow. Only my decisions in the present moment matter right now. Today, I feel firmly grounded in the heritage of my birthland. Ten years spent living abroad also shaped my global view. The present moment provides my primary focus and my greatest resource.
My true identity relies on building things up and moving forward constructively. I am a person constantly in motion. True personal evolution happens quietly and invisibly. We fulfill our mission the moment we live by creating what we love.