Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tiana Balthazar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tiana, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
For me, overcoming mental-health challenges has been about staying self-aware and choosing persistence over perfection. I’ve learned how to pause, regulate myself, and communicate instead of reacting. I’ve built routines like journaling, grounding practices, and movement—that help me stay centered even when things feel overwhelming. I’ve also become intentional about my boundaries and the environments I allow myself in.
What’s helped me the most is learning to show up anyway; using the tools I have, asking for support when I need it, and giving myself grace. Those habits have made me more resilient, more emotionally intelligent, and better at navigating stressful situations without losing myself.
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?
What I do sits at the intersection of creativity, storytelling, and human-centered design. I’m the founder of TLX DESIGN, a brand I’m building as both a portfolio and a platform. My work focuses on UX storytelling, intuitive design, and creating experiences that feel grounding, emotional, and intentional. What makes my approach unique is that I design from a place of lived experience — transformation, wellness, and the inner work that shapes how people move through the world.
A lot of my creative process is rooted in understanding people on a deeper level: what they feel, what they need, and what makes an experience actually meaningful. I love taking complex emotions or personal journeys and translating them into visuals, systems, or design solutions that feel clear and empowering.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding TLX DESIGN into a full design portfolio while also laying the foundation for the next branches of my brand: TLX Wellness and TLX Talks. TLX Wellness will grow into an educational YouTube channel that blends wellness, creativity, and personal development; all without being on camera. I’m also developing storytelling pieces like “When AI Misreads a Mystic,” which explores how design, intuition, and healing can overlap.
My work is evolving quickly, and that’s the exciting part. I’m building a brand that grows as I do. Whether it’s design, wellness, or future products, my goal is to make TLX a space where creativity and clarity meet, and where people feel seen through the experiences I create.
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?
1. Emotional Intelligence & Self-Awareness
One of the biggest turning points in my journey was learning how to understand myself like my triggers, my patterns, my values, and how I communicate. Emotional intelligence helped me navigate difficult environments, advocate for myself, and create boundaries that protect my peace and my creativity.
Advice: Slow down and get curious about your reactions instead of judging them. Journaling, therapy, or even simple grounding practices can help you build emotional awareness that becomes a superpower in both life and work.
2. Adaptability & Curiosity
My path hasn’t been linear, and being open to learning new tools, roles, and creative directions has kept me moving forward. I never box myself into one lane. I’m willing to evolve as I grow.
Advice: Don’t be afraid to be a beginner. Start with free resources, experiment, and follow what genuinely interests you. Curiosity will take you places that planning alone can’t.
3. Human-Centered Creativity
Whether it’s design, storytelling, or wellness, everything I do is rooted in people: how they feel, how they move through the world, and what they need. Learning to see beyond the surface and connect patterns emotionally and intuitively has shaped how I design and how I create.
Advice: Pay attention to people. Observe how they react to spaces, apps, conversations, and experiences. The more you learn about human behavior, the stronger your creative work becomes.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is managing self-doubt and imposter syndrome, especially when I’m in a season of growth. I’m someone who gets powerful “this is it” moments of clarity, but then I can start questioning myself afterward, wondering if I made the right choice, if I’m good enough, or if I should shift directions again. It’s a pattern that comes from wanting to get things right, but it can slow me down if I let it.
To work through it, I’m learning to pause instead of pivot. I give myself space to sit with an idea long enough to know if the doubt is intuition or just fear. I’m also staying grounded by breaking things into small steps, tracking my progress, and reminding myself that new chapters naturally come with uncertainty. The more I show up consistently, even when I feel unsure, the more confident and aligned I become.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: tianaluxdesign & tianalux
- Facebook: Tiana Lee Hyde
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/tianahyde/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tianaluxtalks
Image Credits
I have the rights to all images used
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
