Meet Emily Imbrogna

 

We were lucky to catch up with Emily Imbrogna recently and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence is something I may be forever working on. It hasn’t come naturally to me, especially since I was only recently diagnosed with ADHD, and the condition, for me, comes with something called “rejection sensitivity dysphoria”. As an artist and business owner with lofty goals, I must prioritize building and maintaining an internal sense of confidence to sustain my motivation, creative output, and continuous momentum toward progress.

As an artist, I find that my inspiration comes from a variety of sources. For example, I’m fascinated with etymology and words. “Confidence” stems from roots meaning “with faith.” The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that it’s the “doing” that leads to confidence, regardless of the outcome – “doing” “with faith” – The more I push myself out of my comfort zone by doing and trying new things, the more belief I have in my own capabilities.

Hitting emotional rock bottom and rising from the ashes has taught me that recovery from failures instills a sense of safety. I know I can endure discomfort for the sake of my success and happiness because failure is not the same as defeat.

Spending a lot of time alone over the past few years has allowed me to process self-esteem issues. I’ve realized that I enjoy my own company, like myself, and that’s enough. I don’t need to prove anything to myself or anyone else. I can pursue my chosen destiny without pressure.

Having faith in possibilities and in myself allows me to carry on and pick myself up repeatedly. Bravery and courage don’t mean fearlessness; they mean acting boldly despite fear. Doing so shows faith in my judgment, ideas, and self.
Prioritizing skill-building and embracing lifelong learning are crucial. This doesn’t necessarily require lots of money or formal education. I’m currently taking free Italian lessons on Duolingo and have a 323-day streak and counting. The more you build your knowledge and ability to contribute positively to the world, the more confident you become.

I believe all artists are both trained and self-taught to varying degrees. Traditional schooling and solo practice are both essential to skill development. I’m pursuing my own continued arts education through a variety of sources, and am currently enrolled in the Mastery Program at Milan Art Institute.

Commitment is crucial in order to build self confidence, and so I take the concept of commitment very seriously. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz—be impeccable with your word, always do your best, never make assumptions, and don’t take anything personally—are principles that I believe lead to deep inner confidence.

For example, I’ve given myself a weekly challenge this summer, to paint en plein air (outdoors) in new locations, capturing compositions live on Instagram, as a way to strengthen and build my “commitment-muscle”. Additionally, by experimenting with this new challenge, I’m getting my brain comfortable with discomfort for the sake of growth. Since June, I’ve painted at various locations, including a lake in Maine, a rose garden in Boston, and Venice Beach in California.

Additionally, defining big goals with a bigger picture in mind has helped me find my purpose, which I believe also allows you to operate from a place of deep inner confidence. I want my success to benefit others and contribute to the world. I’ve begun connecting my purpose with causes close to my heart, such as mental wellness through art.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, true confidence requires self-compassion and self-forgiveness. Treat everything as a learning experience. In challenging situations, I try to always ask myself, “What can I learn from this?”

Choosing faith in myself over my fears, combined with cultivation of self-love, is a formula that has proven building for my confidence. Tending to my confidence has made me more optimistic and resilient.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am an emerging artist and entrepreneur based in Boston, Massachusetts. With a BFA in Digital Filmmaking from Lesley University, an institution known for pioneering art therapy studies in Cambridge, MA, I am seeking to revolutionize the intersection of art, nature, and mental wellness through her innovative live Instagram series, “En Plein Air Live with Emily.” promoting the therapeutic benefits of art and nature in combination.

I am also the host of “CREATIVELY UNLOCKED,” a YouTube vlog dedicated to mental wellness through engagement in the arts. I am selling my art right now through a variety channels and platforms and I am currently accepting commissions for custom art pieces as well.

I believe we are stronger together, especially artists supporting each other. I’m open to collaborations with like-minded individuals. You can connect with me through my website or social media.

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?

Here are 3 Philosophies I’ve been living by at the moment –

1. Self Love is the highest form of currency – Your energy is proportionate to how well you are able to take care of yourself.

2. Creativity is the most renewable resource – The more you engage with creativity, the more creative you are.

3. Chaos is an incredible force of creativity – Chaos is often seen as an incredible force of creativity because it breaks down existing structures and norms, creating space for new ideas and perspectives to emerge. This is something I’ve been contemplating a lot lately…

Here are several reasons why chaos can be a catalyst for creativity:

Breaks Routine and Patterns: Chaos disrupts routines and established patterns, forcing individuals to think outside the box and find new solutions to problems.

Stimulates Novel Connections: In chaotic environments, unexpected connections between ideas, concepts, and experiences are more likely to occur, leading to innovative thinking.

Encourages Risk-Taking: Chaos can create a sense of urgency or necessity that encourages people to take risks they might otherwise avoid, potentially leading to groundbreaking discoveries.

Fosters Flexibility and Adaptability: Dealing with chaos requires flexibility and adaptability, qualities that are essential for creative problem-solving and innovation.

Reduces Fear of Failure: In a chaotic situation, the usual rules and expectations are often suspended, reducing the fear of failure and encouraging experimentation.

Invites Diverse Perspectives: Chaos can bring together diverse groups of people with different viewpoints, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas that can lead to creative breakthroughs.

Encourages Improvisation: Chaos often necessitates improvisation, which can lead to spontaneous and creative responses that wouldn’t occur in a more controlled environment.

Challenges Comfort Zones: Chaos pushes individuals out of their comfort zones, prompting them to explore new territories and approaches that can lead to innovative outcomes.

Reveals Hidden Potential: In chaotic situations, people may discover strengths and capabilities they didn’t know they had, leading to new creative pursuits and achievements.

Promotes Problem-Solving: The need to navigate chaos requires problem-solving skills, which can stimulate creative thinking as individuals seek to find order and solutions amidst the disorder.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Make art for play and pleasure, and/or experience it as an observer, or as an art stylist (just for your own home, even!). Do what makes you feel good as often as you can in between everything else you have going on in your life! I highly recommend reading Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Marie Brown. After all, I believe the essence of creativity is play and at the core of play is pleasure and seeking joy. As a strong proponent of making creativity and art appreciation part of one’s regular self-care and “wellness-perscription”, I see the value in giving ourselves permission to embrace our inner child as a way of combating and coping with everyday stress and overwhelm.

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