The Introduction - Maximising Potential, Cultivating Individuality, and The Value of Being Multifaceted
Why your future self depends on you. Why the world needs more individuals. And the multifaceted path as a way of getting there.
Introduction
You’ve made it. It took you a while. But perhaps through your own evolution, and definitely through my own, the world has conspired to acquaint you with my page. So, I’m glad you’re here.
If you’re wondering why this bearded individual is speaking to me with an air of eloquence, yet awkwardly confronting commonality, it’s ok, I don’t blame you.
It was done to capture something so fleeting in today’s climate, it can pass you like a whisper in the wind.
What?
Attention.
Now that I’ve got it, I’m going to explain the following:
Who Jad Al Masri is.
What this page is.
Why it exists - through answering why the page stands for what it does. and
What it aims to achieve.
Who is Jad Al Masri?
I’m what I consider multifaceted. A young polymath, if you will. I have deep interests in a profusion of domains. I’ll categorise them into 4 parts.
To preface, I’m not intending to boast, or seem haughtily superior. This is what I’ve become through effort and through acting in alignment with unconscious forces, and I think it deserves to be presented as such.
Music
I’m a violinist and composer of particularly Middle Eastern Instrumental Music. I’ve been a violinist since six, but have grown my compositional musical venture for the past 4 years. I’ve created 11 compositions alongside my father, filmed a huge music video, and launched my own concert in Sydney at the age of 22.
Media
I’m also a “self-proclaimed” designer, filmmaker, and director. I’ve been doing media-related work since 2015 - where I began designing for e-sports teams. I then created short films during high school, and into university. This culminated into directing a 20-min music video for a 20-min composition of ours, along with a 10-min short film, with an absolutely brilliant team. This has developed to creating short-form and long-form content for social media, but importantly:
Law
I’m currently completing my legal studies, and simultaneously undergoing the path to become a lawyer in New South Wales, Australia. In this respect - I’m interested in Intellectual Property, Media Law, Privacy, and Constitutional Law.
The Self
However, I do not want to solely be recognised for the aformentioned categories because, those aren't the sole or defining categories. Nor do they fully encapsulate what I’m capable of. Thus, what I intend to grow with this page and YouTube channel is the fourth category, which is ‘The Self’.
This category mainly relates to those interests I've cultivated for quite some time, perhaps even longer than the others I've mentioned. The areas related to this category of the self include:
Psychology
But not just psychology in its general or traditional understanding. It actually goes a bit deeper than this. I have a deep fascination with the work of Carl Jung and therefore depth psychology and psychoanalysis. But with the beauty that is modernity, depending on how you view it, I’ve been privileged enough to learn of some major advancements in these fields, culminating into what I consider the magnum opus of psychology, which is the work of Stephen Pauline Richards, as well as James Dowling over at the channel Jung to live by. They are bringing to the collective consciousness an amazing model which fuses the works of Jung, Freud, and Adler into one which, if I understand correctly, is the “biopsychosocial” model. So that's the perspective of psychology I'm going to share with you in the future.
Health
In addition to that, I also have a deep interest in the realm of health, particularly nutrition and fitness, and how these contributes over wellbeing, nutrition. Is not just the sense of whatever is going in your mouth. Viewed holistically, it concerns how you nourish yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. And fitness is indeed, however, related to exercise and movements.
Self-Development
The next interest area is interrelated with the last, and these two are self-development and self awareness as regards self-development. The reason I consider it an interest area and worthy of sharing is because maximising your potential necessitates the ability to recognise areas of your self that demand improvement and acting upon the recognition of those areas.
And as you will come to understand, one of the key principles which this channel stands for is the maximization of potential. Now, this doesn't mean it will be a perfect path in achieving that or that it will be linear or that it will be streamlined, but it encourages cultivating the philosophy where maximising potential is at the forefront of your life.
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is a significant one to me, mainly because I consider myself quite an introspective individual, and I found that to be incredibly rewarding as it regards understanding how I can improve myself as well as how I behave in response to certain situations, people, and scenarios.
Although related to self-development as well as psychology, I believe that cultivating a disposition that favours us being self-aware, or moving as close as possible to becoming self-aware, is beneficial.
I consider self-awareness important because without it, one can only live their life as if blindfolded. And that would be a tragic reality because you will never acquaint yourself with the way that you behave in certain situations, with certain people and in certain scenarios. And if you cannot do that, then that means you can never really develop, the result being that you perpetually remain stagnant.
Further, one of the guiding principles of this very universe is the fact that nothing is permanent. That is both a good thing and a bad thing. Thus, to not cultivate a sense of self-awareness would be to act in contradiction to one of the guiding principles of the very universe that we live in.
What Does ‘The Multifaceted Perspective’ Stand For?
This channel, beginning with this video, constitutes another dent of mine into the universe. The physical manifestation of maximising potential. The alignment between unconscious direction and conscious application.
It will also act as an exercise for me to cut through the outward facing layers (persona), and relay more of my own self and experience to the world as I think I’m obligated to do so. While it will not be perfect, I endeavour to refine my ability to do so over time - so that I can get to the beating nexus in the monster plexus that is me and communicate it.
I’m also aware that musical artists don’t often share much about themselves, or if they do so, it is only to the extent that it would benefit their musical image. But I think that is a disillusioned perspective, inevitably leading to neuroses or paroxysms of true character, or perverse repressed desires.
I think viewing a person in isolation robs one of the potential to appreciate their depth, the fact that they’re a human being, and most importantly, what they did to get to the level they are at.
It’s become easy presently to idolise a heavily curated version of a person. I know because I partake in this, but I always understood it would not be permanent - and that it is my obligation to balance out the contrived curation with authentic inspiration.
As such, this channel stands for four key aspects:
1. Encouraging individuals to maximise their potential.
What Does Maximising Potential Even Mean?
Maximising potential means acting on your unconscious direction such that all avenues of yourself are activated, conscious, and embodied with the ultimate result being that you are aligned with your life trajectory.
For me, I initially manifested a talent in music, then passion in media, design, film, literature. Psychology and Spirituality had then came after, at quite a young age. This then extended to the realms of health, fitness, nutrition as I got older. Thus, for me to go about life without communicating my experience, or what I learnt meant, at least intrinsically, that I wasn’t maximising my potential. I had an unconscious impulse to communicate these to the world. There were universal reminders of this. My deep communication also indicated this. So, I acted on unconscious direction.
Why do you stand for this?
Because I’ve heard enough of the pain experienced by persons who reach the middle of their life feeling unfulfilled, wondering where all the years went, all while they’ve remained EXACTLY THE SAME - professionally, creatively, emotionally, and physically. This is typified in the current state of our society, a direct result of not maximising potential. Remaining stagnant. Settling too early.
It is also because I was not satisfied with traditional understandings of what life was to mean.
However, it is not just me who understands the importance of maximising potential.
Carl Jung’s central philosophy was that of individuation which, essentially, means becoming who you are meant to be, through integrating and actualising all aspects of yourself. Here’s an apt quote reflecting this.
“The only meaningful life is a life that strives for the individual realization — absolute and unconditional— of its own particular law ... To the extent that a man is untrue to the law of his being ... he has failed to realize his own life's meaning.”
~ Carl Jung
Bud Harris, a Jungian analyst, also reflects on this pertinently. He wrote the book “Becoming Whole: A Jungian Guide To Individuation” which I just finished reading. In it, he stated the following on individuation.
Individuation is the cultivation of wisdom and receptivity, rather than the building of a body of knowledge…
~ Bud Harris
Harris also stated that involves becoming a:
“Courageous explorer of the interaction between our inner and outer worlds.”
~ Bud Harris
This interplay between inner and outer worlds will become increasingly important to you as I delve into the topic in future videos, beginning with my Journalling video.
How will you achieve this?
Through conveying how I maximised mine, and how I will continue to do so. The structure for doing so will be through categorising the videos into four key categories.
Music
Personal Development
Productivity
Multifaceted Perspective (The Synthesis of All Domains).
I will also achieve this through imparting information which can help you maximise your potential.
This is especially important because information and attention are primary currencies amidst my age group and considering this group’s current state of dilapidation, I want to contribute to countering it’s decline and decay into entropy given the lack of active forces preventing it from occurring.
Although related to the last aspect, I will also do so through emphasising the importance of individuality and unconventionality, particularly viewed from the lenses of personal development, including psychology, self-awareness, consciousness, health, and importantly my personal experience with all of these.
2. Demonstrating The Value Of Being Multifaceted
Why do you stand for this?
There is incredible value in being multi-dimensional. It allows you to form novel perspectives, connect dots across completely different domains, and contribute to a richer tapestry of ideas within the collective consciousness, especially as represented currently by social media. And, because it relates to the last aspect.
How will you achieve this?
Through discussing my musical venture, my personal development (lifestyle, productivity, self-development, individuality, psychology, health, and fitness), and the synthesis of these into another category which I call - The Multifaceted Perspective.
3. Accentuating A Better Path
Why do you stand for this?
It may seem trite, but I’m sure you can understand that many people around my age group, even older, and many younger feel an exigent crisis of purposelessness.
In recent years, it has been exacerbated by menial, mundane, soulless WORK packaged, dressed up, and gifted in the form of a quasi-alluring routinised LIFE. It is not just corporate life. It is the same path, the same reflection in the mirror, the same problems, the same inaction, the same isolation. For individuals who resonate with my cultural background, this is even more poignant - the idea of online work is taboo.
Thus, the channel is is a call for change through showing the path I’m taking, and can be taken. One that can result in the monetisation of your interests and development, in conjunction to the security of an esteemed profession.
How will you achieve this?
Through this channel. Through these videos. Through my creative projects. These all constitute a path which can be followed. They serve as a physical reminder that someone like me does exist, can exist, and that taking an unconventional path is not to be feared. In saying this, I’m sure there are many persons like me. However, I won’t allow it to stop me from sharing my own perspective.
4. Encouraging Individuality & Unconventionality
This is perhaps the most important.
Why do you stand for this?
There is an increasing trend of everyone in developed nations, particularly of younger age groups, becoming the same. They're exposed to the same cultural icons, the same sources of information, the same platforms, the same dopamine draining material, and eventually begin regurgitating such material, speaking exactly like each other. Not only this, but they dress like each other, and practically look exactly like each other.
This is incredibly disturbing.
Thus, I want my message to be available to those who may resonate with what I am saying internally, but have no one who speaks of it that is relatable or age-relevant.
To also answer this, I’ll recount a short story.
When I was completing my law studies, I would commute to the gym in the mornings (of which I, obviously, still do - the gym doesn’t stop). Nearly every week day.
During this time, it became painful to see something.
Humans…routinised.
All performing the same task.
All consuming the same information.
All speaking the same phrases.
Stripped of their last crumbs of individuality.
To see ill-clothed, torpidly acting, bodies, existing under cold, piercing fluorescent white light, not even speaking, seared an image into my brain.
The more I saw this image, the more I was reminded that it is dangerous to be the same as others.
The same is being conventional. Conventional is lacking originality. Thus, I want to raise awareness of the value in unconventionality leading to individuality.
So, the reason I stand for this, is so that you and I can have the confidence to say our life is interesting. That YOU are interesting. So you can have interesting conversations. So you can find others who are similarly interesting. And so you can finally call yourself a human in what is supposed to be the human experience. And, hopefully, so people know you as distinctly different from other people.
What Does ‘The Multifaceted Perspective’ Aim To Achieve?
This is simple. There are three aims, in addition to the above aspects.
Raising the collective consciousness through becoming embodied.
Bringing to the light the shadow, merging the conscious with the equally important unconscious. As within, so without. Yin, Yang. Masculine, feminine. You get the gist - embodied means recognising and integrating both forces - something presently lacking in a consciousness-dominant world
Like-minded Connection.
I want to encounter, and connect others with, more people who resonate with my interests. It is a shame for multifaceted individuals, or even individuals interested in the same areas, to live completely insular to the fact that there are people like them, around them.
The satisfaction of knowing I’m contributing my experience and value to the world.
I’ve wanted to conduct this for some time. And, I do not want to leave the earth without having tried it.
Why Should You Care?
To answer this, I’ll begin my quoting the great work of Dan Koe.
If you don’t start a business to provide information, education, and goods that make a better humanity – then unethical businesses rise to the top without competition making a worse humanity…You are directly contributing to evil by not starting a business to raise the collective consciousness.
~ Dan Koe
Whilst confined to the modern buzzword of ‘business’, I’d argue it’s application spans wider in scope.
If you don’t cultivate your individuality, you indirectly allow conventional people (not individuals) to exert greater influence on the world. Think of corporate executives, and you can visually see what I mean. If you don’t cultivate self-awareness, you indirectly allow shallow, superficial and vapid people (not individuals) to exert greater influence on the world. I’ve mentioned this in my post and video detailing how I launched a concert, at 22, while in law school.
Pay attention to the distinction between ‘people’ and ‘individuals’. Not everyone is an individual. But everyone is indeed a person.
You SHOULD care because you being frustrated at creators earning significant figures, or wondering why dating is hard, or why it’s so hard to get a job, or why everything seems boring, or why people are weird, is reflective of insufficient collective action towards betterment. The astute reader would have realised I’ve named the trends within developed societies - reflecting insufficient collective action to understanding how individual contribution affects collective behaviours and circumstances. This is a sign of an unembodied culture. Perhaps another post for another time.
You SHOULD care if you want to have the capacity to satisfy conscious concerns - health, wealth, relationships, ‘happiness’ - but move BEYOND it to cultivate a life you think is at least more interesting than yours now. Where a stranger has a conversation with you. Where someone is actually interested in becoming your friend. Where there is greater, authentic community (not just mere gatherings).
AND IF YOU DON’T CARE?
Then this means my message is not meant for you. And that’s fine, because that is the byproduct of individuality - everyone is different.
Conclusion
In closing, here’s a final statement which arguably encapsulates the entirety of this article.
“Become who you are meant to be.”
Products and Resources
The Multifaceted Journal Template
Description: a practical system that addresses the common challenges associated with journaling, providing a purposeful and consistent approach to self-reflection. Designed around simplicity and depth, the template features 5 questions that structure your journey towards self-discovery, planning, and psychological development inspired by Jungian Psychology. When implemented alongside a viewing of my video 'How I Journal for Conscious and Unconscious Clarity', you'll be equipped to change who you are through understanding who you are.
Link: https://themultifacetedperspective.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout
The Multifaceted Weekly Planner
Description: not just a standard, bland tool for productivity, but a thoughtful system – incorporating reflection, task-allocation, and time-blocking – designed to help you effectively achieve your goals and maximise your potential. Created by myself based on how I organise my life as a violinist, composer, director, designer, and law student, it's designed to organise all the various aspects of your life into a single location to actualise your ideal self.
Link: https://themultifacetedperspective.lemonsqueezy.com/checkout
Note: I use affiliate links for some referrals. This means, at no cost to you, I receive a small commission.