Meet Christian Gooden

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christian Gooden. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Christian, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?

The conditions that allowed me to develop my empathy are related to experiences I had with myself, family, and friends. I believe these circumstances began with my family. These were the people I grew to know and understand first. My parents, siblings, and close-knit family members helped me comprehend how to be open with certain things. There were always things that needed to be heard, but there were also things that needed to be said. As I grew (and continue to grow), I realized that understanding my own feelings, sharing my feelings, and learning how to deal with them helped me understand how important they were. Not only were my emotions crucial for growth, people that I love, and care for also have emotions that are key.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a self-taught, visual artist. My art highlights growth, mental health, empowerment, and even more. I am an acrylic-based, abstract artist. I plan to broaden myself with my art to include oil, watercolors, and 3-D proportions. Originally a modern, ballet, and jazz dancer; Which I plan to add back into my life. I also plan to learn photography, videography, and digital art. I love poetry, music (hint, where my art name “Tune” came from), and anything that deals with all types of art forms. I hope that art can help revive this world, and find ways to heal, empower, and educate many. My next goal is to be able to provide a physical art space for artists to network and grow together!

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 would like to start by saying that I believe that I have just become more aware of my journey. It sounds so cliche, but I didn’t really know where I was going, or what my purpose was; Nor do I now. I threw the dice up, and didn’t pray for a number. This is how I began. I wouldn’t say that this is how anyone should begin, but sometimes if you feel stuck, ask for help. If no one can help, there is always a way.
The list of skills that I always feel are essential in one’s journey includes adaptability, communication, and critical thinking/problem solving. Being able to adjust when things don’t go as planned, communicating when you need help and have to learn from someone other than yourself or people you know. Taking a moment, or even several moments to stop/pause and think; Then you solve problems, which shouldn’t be considered anything that hinders or delays your process. These are ways to survive, ways to heal, and ways to succeed, all while learning from your experiences and improving. These skills are an umbrella for so many more that are always needed while traveling through our times.

Although, I have looked back and saw that adaptability, communication, and critical thinking/problem solving have been the most impactful in my journey, I know they will also be even more essential in my future.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, or stressed out, music is my first key to peace. I listen to so many genres, but jazz, chill hop, lofi hip hop, and mainly instrumentals help me create pictures of better outcomes. I am also a fan of aromatherapy. Oils, incense, boiling water with citrus, or certain spices are very soothing and calming. Even drinking teas, or having a healthy moment helps ease the tension.

I can go on with the list of things that I would do, but my advice to anyone dealing with stress, being overwhelmed, or any sort of tension (whether physical, metal, or emotional), ask for help, communicate with others, write it out in your own journal, look into hobbies or things that you love to do. Spend time to get to know yourself. Also, if possible, seek therapy. We always see ways to help others, but when do we ever stop and ask ourselves, what do I need help with?