I Choose Transformation!
Do you, like me, probably read too much into your horoscope?
I do try to read mine with a healthy dose of skepticism. Surely it can’t know that much about me. But alas, I keep reading and thinking about them. Why? Because no matter how I square it, there are characteristics and patterns I find undeniable. I, for example, am a Cancer.
Oh boy, am I a Cancer.
Quick note: If you’re unfamiliar with astrology, I recommend hopping over to Astrology Zone or Queer Cosmos. Both sites will give you the rundown on what astrology is and how it can be used in our own lives.
Cancers were approximately born between the 22nd of June, to the 22nd of July. We are one of three water signs, along with Pisces and Scorpio. Water signs are highly affected by the pull of the moon, with our behaviors, thought processes, and moods changing with the tides.
To be honest, I’ve grown comfortable as a textbook Cancer. I admit that I’m helplessly swayed by the slightest breeze: a song change, a waft from a nostalgic perfume, an endearing commercial. And once I have been lifted and washed down the shore, it’s nearly impossible to return to where I once was.
However, this is the age of the personal brand. Our online lives have become avatars of our best selves, the ones we want the world to see. These avatars thrive on consistency because that lets your followers know what to expect when they consume your content.
I’ve certainly struggled with this idea. But instead of frustratedly forcing myself to be more consistent—which, oh goodness me, I’ve tried—I’ve learned to accept this is just who I am. I change. Sometimes this means I’m contradictory. Other times it means sucking it up to participate in things I previously agreed to but am no longer wild about. As much as I admire consistency, it’s never gonna happen for me, babe! And that’s totally fine!
When thinking about change and evolution, I can’t help but think of chameleonic entertainer Lady Gaga. Perhaps the most attractive thing about her career to me is the unapologetic embrace of transformation. She may be dressed in lavish couture and pursing her lips one day, then rocking cut-off jeans and slouching with a cigarette the next. These multitudes aren’t incompatible with each other. Rather, they’re varied shades of herself that she’s respected enough to let run free. Each “persona” is an opportunity to explore, find empathy, and exercise the muscles of versatility, much like an actor would. And considering we're all exposed to an overload of information, references, and ideas, it seems compassionate to simply embrace the waves of change, rather than fight against it in favor of some antiquated idea of consistency.
So in the new year I’ve vowed to be a little more like Gaga. Comfortable in contradiction and relishing the glee of evolution. Better to accept myself as I am—just a moody Cancer who will be one thing today, and another tomorrow. It’s the freedom that artists like Gaga embody that we may all do well to strive for. I have to remind myself that the only thing preventing me from accepting my mood du jour is myself. And if you, like me, find consistency too limiting, then remember: the tools we need to become something new, are already inside of us.
So, who's with me? Cheers to transformation? Or comfort in consistency?
Justin Salathé leads digital and marketing efforts for The Butterfly Connection. He is a New York City-based branding strategist, writer, matcha aficionado, and future dog owner *prayer hands.* You can find him on Instagram and Twitter, or at justinsalathe.com.
Photo by Ambitious Creative Co. - Rick Barrett on Unsplash
