Meet Lela Roy

We were lucky to catch up with Lela Roy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lela, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I don’t know if it’s possible to fully get over imposter syndrome. I think somewhere inside all of us, we know that what we do in our careers and how we present in the world isn’t truly what defines us. I think what helps me is recognizing that we all don’t know what the heck we’re doing with our lives or what the heck we’re doing here. We’re all just wearing costumes, we’re all just making it all up as we go. Some people are just better at wearing the costume and playing the role. This isn’t to say that some people don’t have real skills and experience, but even if one has real skills it doesn’t exclude you from feeling like you’re still not good enough.

I think the other thing that helps is developing a healthy sense of not giving a fuck about what others think. Being proud of yourself for even trying to do something in this world, rather that being scared of failing or being scared of what others will think of you. It’s something that I have still not mastered but not caring about what others think is an active practice in my daily life that has really benefited me a lot.

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 am the Co-Founder of the HÜMNKIND Collective which is a community organization that was founded in response to the loneliness epidemic. Our mission is to foster authentic and deeper human connection in the Los Angeles area through our social clubs centered around nature, mindfulness and creativity. I am also a wildlife biologist specializing in birds. I do avian surveys and environmental permitting..

In my creative life I also play music, I make horse paintings, and do some eclectic performance art/acting. I have fronted several bands, including my projects Oxeye Daisy and Babelord and still release music under these names sometimes. Right now my main creative focus is on my performance art/comedy project called Partyhog, in which I go out into public dressed in a homemade Sonic the Hedgehog costume and pretend to be a guy who believes they are a famous artist. It’s kind of hard to explain. You can check it out

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?

More important than, skill, talent or creativity, I think the most valuable quality to creating something is to BE A PERSON THAT ACTUALLY DOES THINGS, not a person who says they do things. There are so many people who all they do is talk about how they are something, or how they want to do something but then they don’t actually do the thing. I get it! It’s scary putting yourself out in the world! But don’t think that the people who end up doing things aren’t also terrified. If you really believe in something or want to create something, half of the battle is just pushing through the discomfort to actually doing the thing. The discomfort is not a bad thing, it’s just apart of the journey!

Secondly, not being afraid to “fail.” I put “fail” in quotations, because if you put yourself out there and really try your best, there is no failing. You can only fail if you believe you failed, but if you’re “failing” correctly, every experience is a learning opportunity and should help you be better in the future.

Thirdly, being authentic to yourself. If you’re not being honest and authentic to yourself in what you are creating, you’re going to create something that is either unsustainable to maintain, or will end up being a drain on your mental/spiritual/ emotional world.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Fighting burnout. This is a constant balance and struggle if you are a highly ambitious, creator-type person. Most weeks I feel like I am juggling a million balls at once and it’s exhausting. I have days where I feel like I want to give up everything, just go work a secure corporate job, get married and have a family and call it good. No judgements to anyone who wants that life! I have been there and may end up there someday again. But I think what is authentic for me right now is pursuing this more unconventional lifestyle, with all the struggles and lessons that it is affording me.

One of the things that I am getting better at is recognizing when I starting to feel burnout and acting on it. What helps me is spending time in nature, far away from my super fast-paced and busy life in Los Angeles. I notice that spending a few days camping almost feels like it slows down and changes my brain chemistry. It’s so important to take breaks and take care of yourself. You’re not doing anyone any good if you quit what you’re doing because you’ve burnt yourself out.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.humnkindcollective.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humnkind.collective/