Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christina Phensy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Christina, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
When I was young, I grew up mixed race and queer in a conservative area of Texas. I was a first generation child of a refugee from Laos, because of the communist revolution, so I experienced an array of classism and racism. I think the grit to persevere was etched into my bones from birth. This was one of my strongest qualities that helped me keep going, no matter how hard things got. It gave me the strength to be the person I am, despite the structural social systems and local cultural norms of oppression. To really be resilient, I learned you also have to learn gentleness, compassion and self love as well. By practicing all of these qualities, I helped blaze new paths for other AAPI queer cuties and develop a true sense of toughness to, as Aaliyah said, “… if at first you don’t succeed…Then dust yourself off and try again.”
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a multi-media artist and filmmaker in Los Angeles, California. My art practice is always in flux as different mediums attract me and I continue to lack discipline to stay with just one. Currently, I just finished a short film called “Elegy for the Future” which I wrote and directed and am working on a feature film pitch for. It’s a queer cyberpunk story that establishes the visual language and tone of the eco-dystopian world and characters I created. Different genres are blended and I take a feminist lens to the male dominated genre of science fiction. I am very excited about this and am hoping I get funding for it. The film was just accepted to North Hollywood CineFest and I am hoping for more!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of the most important skills I have learned over the years, is the ability to communicate. So many conflicts happen because miscommunication or a lack of. I can solve most problems by being able to see this and adjust to be in the flow of things while also creating structure. My resiliency is also critical to my success. There will always be setbacks, rejection and those who want to lower your vibrations, but you have to push through the storm. The last thing that has helped me is an emphasis on cultivating compassion for others and myself. Staying at a high vibration and keeping love in your heart will help anyone stay on course. My advice would be to find your community and keep your love, faith and authenticity at your core.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
I totally cried when I read Bell Hooks, “All About Love: New Visions,” because I was so moved. That book had such a major impact on me and how I viewed the world. I would love to quote “Once we begin to replace negative thinking with positive thinking, it becomes utterly clear that, far from being realistic, negative thinking is absolutely disenabling. When we are positive we not only accept and affirm ourselves, we are able to affirm and accept others.” It was a necessary reading to help navigate a world that is becoming more cruel and isolating. I believe as creatives, we must find ways to flourish and maintain a pure practice in the face of all things negative or against freedom of expression.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christinaphensy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cphensy/
Image Credits
Lindsey Byrnes
Evan Woods
Ken Cheng
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
