The Flaming Lips and the Art of Being Unapologetically You

This past summer I had the opportunity to finally see The Flaming Lips in concert at the Westville Music Bowl in Newhaven, CT. It was a perfect summer night too! I have been wanting to see The Flaming Lips in concert for decades. I have been a fan since 1995, when the song "She Don't Use Jelly" surged to popularity. I was in 10th grade then.

The Flaming Lips have created a lot of music since then. From time to time I will listen to one of their albums or go to YouTube and relish in the music and imagery. Lead singer Wayne Coyne's energy inspires me. There is something about his presence that I find comforting and encouraging. The Flaming Lips show me that it is safe for me to express my ideas and share who I am and if that is weird to other people, oh well then that is okay. People will either appreciate those things about me or they won't. We need to focus on the right people instead of focusing on the people who are not right for us.

As a recovering people-pleaser, I used to waste so much time and energy stressed out about who I needed to be in order to be loved and accepted by others. I experienced so much inner peace and freedom when I finally accepted me for me. As a business owner and content creator these insecurities can still creep up on me, but I no longer let them have the same control over me that they once did.

Here are some photos from the concert.

This was truly an amazing night that I will hold dearly in my heart. I hope I can see The Flaming Lips perform again in the future. What was the last concert you went to? Let me know in the comments.

---

Jennifer Shlomovich is a recovering people-pleaser turned confidence coach. As the only vegan in her household, she knows firsthand how challenging it can be to stay true to your values when the people around you aren’t on the same path. For years, she put everyone else’s needs ahead of her own, but through her journey, she discovered the power of setting boundaries, living by her values, and confidently prioritizing her well-being. Now, she helps busy women simplify plant-based living so they can improve their health, save time, and feel supported—even if their family isn’t on board. On her YouTube channel, The Confident Vegan, she shares inspiring interviews, practical tips, and empowering conversations about what it really means to live in alignment with your values. She is also the co-host of That Vegan Morning Show with Kimberly Winters of the Did You Bring The Hummus podcast—where they help you start your day the vegan way, live every Monday at 7 AM ET on YouTube.