We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Iman Rahman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Iman , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience. Dreaming of a world where nobody has to be resilient ever again. Resilient out of necessity. Out of survival. Not a choice. Having to navigate systems of oppression. That will surely get you there. Tired of being praised for it. Instead of being cared for. Sick of having to advocate for myself. Screaming to be heard. Living in a body considered to be less valuable. That is what forces you to become resilient.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Art therapy. Medication to live with the pain of this world. I love to write. Letting all my emotions out. Dance. Movement is full of feeling. Full of heart. I live in a body that feels never ending pain. Overstimulation. Disability. Chronic conditions. Creating is how I share my story.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I have always felt that life was complicated and I never knew what to make of it. I now see an advantage there to embrace what comes my way. Not knowing what could be next. Unlearning perfectionism as a recovering people pleaser. Being curious to get to know myself better. Community care. Essential to living of any kind. Interdependence leading me to be more independent. Hyper individualism is overrated. Lean into asking for help and being a part of the cycle. Take care of others AND let them take care of you. Learn what that looks like. How it’s not all meant to be transactional.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When overwhelmed I got towards art. I journal. I scribble. I dance. I paint. I lean into community. I call a friend. I go to therapy. I feel it out. I cry. I scream. I release. I listen to music. I create. I communicate. I breathe.
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