Motivation from Machine Gun Kelly's Blackout Tattoo

Motivation from Machine Gun Kelly’s New Tattoo

Last week, Machine Gun Kelly shared photos of his new tattoo that covers his torso, arms and chest in black. The photos went viral on Instagram before the 33-year-old musician released a song providing insight into the thoughts that caused him to get the body art. The songwriter has previously been vocal about his struggles with paranoia that are detailed in Hulu’s Life in Pink documentary.

In his new song Don’t Let Me Go, MGK raps about his thoughts eating him alive, that a breakdown caused him to tattoo his entire body and that his fiancé Megan Fox’s miscarriage has been difficult on him. As the song closes, MGK shares that he’s searching for someone to tell him who he really is, he dreads the feeling of dying alone and his biggest fear is leaving nothing behind.

How can we use Machine Gun Kelly’s new tattoo as motivation?

We all breakdown: MGK handled his recent breakdown by tatting his entire upper body black. Things don’t always go perfectly so breakdowns happen. Instead of expecting perfection, develop coping mechanisms like taking deep breaths, going for a run and meditation so that we can strategically breakdown in controlled and healthy ways when life inevitably go sideways.

Be your authentic self: MGK raps that he’s “searchin' for someone to tell me who I really am”. It would be convenient for someone to tell us who we are but as Brianna Wiest describes in her book The Mountain is You, discovering our authentic selves is not something others can do for us. We must do it for ourselves. By working to discover our true selves we become authentic. While that doesn’t mean life will be easy, our authenticity allows us to find joy regardless of circumstances.

Think about death: MGK dreads dying alone and fears not leaving behind a legacy. Just as MGK considers his legacy, we could all benefit from contemplating death to give us perspective and provide us with motivational fuel. We’re not here forever so our legacy must be built in a finite amount time. Like Mark Manson describes, considering death is a great way to find what you love. Regardless of what we do or when we die, everyday brings us one day closer to our inevitable death.

Thanks MGK!