“Whenever we get tied down to anything – a name, a body, a lifestyle – that’s the road to ruination.” – Prince

I’m not a Prince fan. I missed that bus somehow, but I was impressed with the outpouring of tributes at his death in 2016.

I started jotting down some of his quotes and texting them to my kids. He had some profound thoughts.

The one above seems like an “anything goes” mindset that could be attributed to a rock star. But the tributes talked about his “openness.”

He collaborated with many different artists. He wrote prolifically, and many artists recorded his songs. He is said to have mastered 20 different instruments.

He didn’t appear to live by “anything goes.” He seemed to be more like “anything is possible” when you stay open to new experiences and new opportunities to learn.

He had his own way of saying you should happen to the world: “Don’t let others dictate to you. Dictate your life to others.”

It sounds pushy, but it is a call to each person to find the leader within himself and embrace it. It demonstrates a value that says to be one who has a conscience, a set of values, and a core that you’ve chosen.

One final quote struck me: “May your only heroes be God and yourself.”

Prince trusted learning. He trusted self-definition. But he trusted a power outside himself.

Don’t be stuck. Get moving. Trust yourself. Trust God. That isn’t “anything goes.” That’s “anything is possible.”