We were lucky to catch up with Ying Chen Shu recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ying Chen, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
How does one find their purpose? That is a burning question that quietly lurks around one’s subconscious. I think about this question during different stages of my life, it changes ever so slightly. However, I think I’ve settled on one. It’s not easy to find one’s purpose. We’ve all read or heard stories, about how someone found their purpose by traveling, going through a breakup, or a horrendous loss. Somehow, I’ve gone through all those. Not purposely, just how life unfolded. They said you can read about it or you can experience it. I did both.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a film director who is still grinding her way to the top. Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. Moved to L.A. six years ago on my own. I’d like to think that I’m a little different than all the others who are also in the same boat as I am. Not to boast myself, I feel a little more than the rest, and I’d like to believe that is the edge I have. As an empath, I always put myself in others’ shoes, I can feel what others are feeling. It’s not an ability that everyone possesses. With that, I can absorb stories, words, or even feelings and transform them into motion pictures. It can be a burden now and then, but I try to use it to fuel my creativity and help me direct better. Directing is the one job I see myself doing and nothing else.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It has been a long journey, and I’m still on that journey. I can sit here and name a list of qualities that you find on a resume but the one thing that kept me going was myself, not quitting. Resilience is the one quality that not many people have. It’s easy to quit and find something that is comfortable, laid back, and stress-free. Going into any venture, one must know that it comes with trials and tribulations. It’s never going to be smooth sailing. Being able to hold on when things get hard when everyone around you has retreated. It gets lonely, so finding those who are like-minded also helps tremendously. Having people that understand would make this journey that you’re on, a lot easier. Choose those you surround yourself with, cautiously.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Read. Watch movies and TV series. Listen to music. Instead of falling down the spiral, it’s better to find things to distract yourself. I find myself feeling overwhelmed a lot as an empath. I have to retreat to my space and just be by myself. One thing I like to do is dive into others’ problems, ie: a character in a book or a TV series. Watch them go through obstacles and overcome them. It can be very rewarding for one. Music also helps a lot, knowing that someone out there who’s made it also feels the same way that you’re feeling, makes them real, and makes whatever is overwhelming you seem small.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://yingchenshu.com
