Guy Sebastian gives himself permission.

Guy Sebastian perfected his musical training experience singing in the Church of his youth in Adelaide and later went onto recording fame through being the first winner of Australian idol and so far, the most successful too. Of course, as his career has progressed, his style, confidence and competence has improved, both as a performer and a writer. He is currently writing songs for his next Album which will be all original songs written by him. However he is also currently touring the songs of his current Album, which is a blues cover version.

These were the songs that he grew up with and what he wanted to do was “to bring a modern take on the songs and yet remain true to the songs and retain an old school feel.”

To help him do this, he went to Memphis itself and recorded with many of the original backing musicians. Many were as impressed with him as he with them, and so Steve Cropper and Donald “Duck” Dunn, among others have in turn, travelled to Australia to tour the Album with Guy.

The success of the Album (The Memphis Album), and the tour, marks a new era of confidence for young Guy. He said, “ There was a time when I was listening to what everyone was telling me about what direction I should go in. Then I gave myself permission to be myself and its great!” Further he added, “ What I want to do is continue to produce music that expresses my soul.”

Now if your singing is anything like mine (Which is really terrible) you and I will never be able to produce music that expresses our souls, but we can still do some other things that will allow us to do just that.

But like Guy, we will have to do our apprenticeship and the long hard yards learning and perfecting our craft. Even then, we may have to follow the lead and direction of others for a while. But eventually there will too for us, come a time where we will either have to give ourselves permission to be ourselves, or else we will forever be trying to please others and never ever achieving that or Happiness.

For Guy, to turn away from the Idol format and the “Pop Market”, to the Blues arena was a risky move particularly in Australia, where that market is small. Fortunately for him, it had paid off in spades.

That may not always be the case for us, but if like Guy, we go with our hearts, we will never die wondering what might have been will we?

So what about you now? Do you need to give yourself permission to be yourself? And if so, will you? It is no good just thinking about it! You also need to act on it and follow it through with all your heart and soul and effort. So are you going to do those things that expresses your soul, or are you going to die wondering?