Meet Jasmine Alexander

We recently connected with Jasmine Alexander and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmine, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

In the case of creating, the artist is “outflowing” their art. So when that flow is exhausted, the artist now needs to “inflow.” So what I do is: research–a TON of research. Even if it’s something I’ve researched before, I know the more times over I hone in a certainty upon that information. Additionally, I pick up something new each time. I also look around and glance at things in a “new unit of time”–even if I’ve seen that thing a hundred times. I pretend I’ve never seen it before and take it in–observing each of its nuances and all. In a world with a trillion+ avenues for inspiration, it boils down to the artist–me–to funnel that into creativity! These are my skills and hacks on this issue.

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?

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, and born to an oil-on-canvas and muralist mother, and general contractor and author father. I’m the second youngest of five children. Growing up, I had a hard life: abjectly poor, struggle, family turmoil, and the ilk. From that, I developed a major resilience, dedicated work-ethic and discipline. Though some people would let this upbringing “define” them, I only let it remind me.

Since I was 4/5 years old, I’ve been artistic: acting, singing, dancing, illustrating, fashion designing, music, and writing. I developed each skill at different times, but since I was a year old, I knew this was my life’s purpose. Now, fast forward, with 2 published novels of a four-book saga, 6 non-fiction life-hack books on the way, 66 screenplays written, dozens of films worked on either as an actress (where I have won awards), director, assistant director or production assistant, award-winning illustrations, my fashion designs in the hands of community leaders, and then some, I’m now reaping what I have sown all of those years ago.

It hasn’t been easy, that’s for sure, but I’ve always managed to pick myself up from my bootstraps and, come hell or high water, persevered. I know I’ve mentioned this in another interview, but I’ve hit rock bottom more times than I’d like to count, been around the block more than my fair share, and seen some of the darkest aspects to humanity–but I know that the vast majority of people are good, honest, and hardworking that just want a good life.

I’ve been asked if I’ve ever wanted to be a lawyer, a detective, run for office, and anything in between. And where I know I would excel at any one of those careers, my calling has always been the arts: for I can sprinkle truth throughout what I do and help imbue this world with the goodness of humanity that is the majority rule.

I’m an autodidact, which means I teach myself. I was homeschooled along with my siblings, and because of that, I’ve developed immense critical thinking; and with a Classical education to boot, how I’ve accumulated the knowledge, skills and habits I have has been mainly through said critical thinking. I question, discern, deduce, and even test all manner of theories, opinions, what have you. If it does not fit into my framework of anything APPLICABLE or WORKABLE, it literally goes right out the window–why hold onto something that is just dead weight?

Because of my lust for life, my fascination with it and all that it includes, the opportunities I’ve had was never luck: it was always preparation meeting opportunity. ALWAYS. And in adding to it, it’s opened so many doors in some of the most odd places that almost everyone assumes I’m “just lucky”–no, ANYONE can have the life I’ve had, they just have to work for it like I had. Constantly striving for better, not because I’m dissatisfied, because I know I deserve more, I’ve earned better, and wanting to expand, grow and elevate IS what Mankind strives for. To be content with “just enough” is honestly not enough, for nothing in this world stays the same: it either gets better, or deteriorates. And that’s how I’ve always evaluated my life. Additionally, I am utterly fascinated with language, culture, history and tradition; and part of the many opportunities that had come to amazing fruition in my career, or even life in general, has been my keen interest in learning to not only speak multiple languages, but CORRECTLY. That small effort, especially as a 3rd-generation American, goes a LONG way!

As far as people reading this interview, all I say is: whether you believe in reincarnation, multiple lifetimes or not, in THIS life you have chances and dreams. GO AFTER THEM! 🙂

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Practice makes perfect. And with practice comes competence. Without competence, one cannot be a professional. So PRACTICE. Really put your all into it–blood, sweat and tears. No half-effort. The people who go down in history are those ones who honed skills, not used AI to become mediocre.

DUPLICATE. In the arts, the best thing to do is duplicate what it is you’re seeing, hearing or experiencing. In the case of acting, I watch regular people in real life then DUPLICATE that personality to become a character–I NEVER watch fellow actors. Now, I do not condone unethical behavior, drugs, or alcohol to duplicate, but you get what I’m trying to say: approximate it as best you can to then duplicate it.

Everything you ever wanted to know, truly, is within yourself. Never forget that. Yeah, it’s nice having validation from others, but at the end of the day, YOU ARE STEERING YOUR SHIP CALLED LIFE.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Honestly? Dianetics and Scientology. Ignore all of the black PR, propaganda and nasty noise out there and check it out for yourself. It had saved my life–I’m not kidding. I’ve nearly died a couple of times, and it literally gave me the tools to more or less revive myself back from the dead. I’m not making any false claims or saying it performs miracles, or whatnot. But remember how I said the answers are always within you? That’s what both have done for me: helped me find ME, and by doing so, I could heal myself with everything I already knew or could do, or research better to find the answers (I cured myself of a brain aneurysm through—a medical “impossibility,” mind you—which I wrote about and will publish very soon about everything I did), and do well. Additionally, both have helped me become a better version of myself, a better artist and all around a happier, saner and calmer ME–that’s worth more than gold, in my opinion!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/JasmineAlexander

Image Credits

All photos taken by Mariah June in Washington State