There is an art to knowing what you truly want
while living inside something else.
Most people think this is dishonesty.
They mistake discernment for being fake.
They believe authenticity requires destruction.
It doesn’t.
Sometimes the most intelligent move
is to remain where you are
without forgetting where you’re going.
There are times when survival matters.
Comfort matters.
Stability matters.
And there are times when your vision must be protected
The mistake isn’t living inside an adopted vision.
The mistake is forgetting your own.
This is where balance must live.
You can honor the life that supports you
while respecting the future that belongs to you.
You can be grateful for what sustains you
without mistaking it for your destination.
There is discipline in remembering what you want,
even when your daily life reflects something else.
In refusing to let convenience erase desire.
In choosing patience over panic.
Some people burn everything down
and call it authenticity.
Others endure it
and call it intelligence.
The art is knowing the difference.
To hold two visions at once
without losing yourself in either.
To live well now
while protecting what’s next.
That balance
is rarely celebrated.
But it is how real futures are built.
And you should never be ashamed of living that way.
Embrace and master the art of holding two visions. Unapologetically.
Inspired by the Leo Full Moon.
Shamonique Mattox writes and creates around one central idea: how we stay connected to what we want while we bring it to life. Her work explores vision, intention, action, and the creative ways we can keep what matters to us present in everyday life. She calls these tools and practices Creative Connection Points. Shamonique is the founder of INTENTION // Bay Leaves, the first physical expression of this work.
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