We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Elle Jae Stewart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Elle Jae below.
Hi Elle Jae , 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 did I find my purpose? This is a beautiful yet bewildering inquiry to address. Arriving to the understanding of my purpose was a journey of hardships and brutal honesty. I first had to learn who I was. How I arrived at my level of prescribed thinking and anxieties. Dissecting my existence was how I found….purpose. Humbly, anything I am interested in, I study with great fervor until I understand its inner workings, the cogs that make the “machine” work. With that in mind, when I studied photography, for a moment I believed that was my purpose; to capture love and truth in stillness. When I discovered my talents in acting, I believed it was my purpose; the ability to transform a fictional character into an alive-truthful being. When I had the opportunity to direct my first play, I believed this too was my purpose; to expose the intimacy of thought with vulnerability leading the way. To truly showcase the actions of a being heavily influenced by his/her circumstances and the reward of receiving justice. But when I teach, when I have the opportunity to pour into young-hungry minds for the arts, this is where I feel the most seen, alive, and purposeful! It was school that elevated me from the life I was born into. It was education that helped heighten my thinking, build international connections, and grow as an artist. Being of service, giving the fullness of my experiences, passions, and pitfalls is my purpose. Transcribing that through the lens as a photographer, as an actor in film/stage, and in the classroom is how I lead and fulfill my purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a first time published author! My book, THE INVENTION OF ELLE JAE, is a labor of love and tribute to my journey toward mental wellness. It’s a vulnerable account of how childhood trauma led me to the world of entertainment. My ultimate objective along with speaking unabashed truths is to encourage those who have experienced unthinkable, unforgettable acts, to understand that we are not the trauma! We can and do survive! As the beautiful poet, Fariha Roisin eloquently states, “for every day that has tried to kill you…& failed” we too, shall win!
Synopsis: From a fractured little girl to a powerful, resilient, purpose-driven woman, Elle Jae Stewart pens a raw-authentic account of how childhood trauma and sexual abuse endured at the hands of her mother and stepfather, led her to the world of creative expression. Riddled with doubts and self-deprivation, she vulnerably shares the struggles to regain hope and self-love amid unhealed traumas. Elle’s testimony supports the overall objective of empowering others to use their voice, speak their truth, and seek the help needed to live a fulfilling life. Through it all, resilience baked itself into a methodical approach of positivity, lending itself to finding the joy in everything and understanding regardless of your beginning or what you’ve been through, it does not define you. You are the author of your story and the captain of your ship. So, take control of your emotions and release those who do not serve the betterment of your existence.
There’s innocence in the breeze of brokenness.
An inconsistent stability from what once was to what is.
The Invention of Elle Jae is available now on Amazon.
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?
Three qualities most impactful in my journey toward mental wellness are: 1) A proper assessment and acceptance there were areas in need of addressing because of my mental health spiraling from unprocessed traumas 2) The need and desire for a better relationship with self and others and 3) The daily commitment to honor my worth by no longer participating in “self erasure”. The road to mental wellness is a daily operation. Waking up and purposely choosing me is a gift I have given myself without apologies. The active decision to live a life of peace is a recipe with one ingredient; boundaries. Learning to set boundaries and honoring the weight of personal protection they provide has taken some time to embrace, however, the alternative of placing myself and mental agility into harm’s way is no longer an option. Understanding the power of boundaries provided clarity on the fact that I can have the life I’ve always wanted removed of toxicity, trauma, and soiled generational conditioning. Boundaries prove I am not the trauma, I am the warrior that combated and won! Choosing me has allowed me to become more present and appreciative of the core people in my life which enriches my existence. Life is beautiful. Life is easy. Life is bountiful. In order to believe these three statements I had to do the internal work on how external factors tainted my worldview of self thus the tactful agenda to eradicate “self erasure”. I also learned by taking on the external traumas and allowing them to shape me was in a sense taking responsibility. I vowed to revoke the responsibility which would’ve kept me in a posture of victimhood and began to understand its multi factor of continual abuse on my psyche and beyond by holding on. I had to accept and release. Finally, setting boundaries has permitted me to embrace every scar as an ode to how far I’ve come and builds excitement on the journey yet traversed.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Feeling overwhelmed is an easy trap to fall into when the pressures of the world become too loud. In order to deal with the feeling I first assess what it is that is making me feel overwhelmed. For instance, if I am overwhelmed from creating an interactive curriculum for my students, I remove myself from the task and focus my energy and creativity on something completely different such as painting or writing a poem. Shifting my thoughts to focus on something perpendicular from the overwhelming task helps to declutter my mind and silence the noise of doubt or insecurity. In essence, dealing with the feeling of being overwhelmed can be handled with a moment of reflection for clarity on what is causing the feeling and redirecting that energy toward an activity that will help one be positively productive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellejaestewart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellejaestewart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellejaestewart33
Image Credits
Thomas H. Stewart
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