Meet Adan Munoz

We were lucky to catch up with Adan Munoz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Adan, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

My life, especially starting in my adolescent years, has been a series of ups and downs that lead to where I am now mentally. There was quite a bit of bullying as a new kid from a small town moving to the big city in Texas. At the same time there were people around me noticing and came to my side. People I would never expect to care about me. Realizing that I had a creative side to me, I used performing to build my confidence and create a persona that people gravitated to. Did it sometimes feel like I was and have always been “onstage” since then? Absolutely. But it made me so happy to make people laugh and smile and dance.

Flash forward to most recently when I fell back into a lot of darkness, I learned to be on my own when I need to be. Not give everything to everyone because there are selfish people out there. Other people’s lack of confidence, empathy and sympathy took a lot from who I am. That darkness was one of the worst I’ve ever been through and I knew I had to do something about it for the ones that truly love me.

Back to therapy I went. Taught myself how to meditate. Taught myself how to be ok with just being me and being ok with not being ok. I can’t be everything to everyone all the time.

My paintings became filled with so much hope during this entire time of darkness. Images of the galaxy around us. Filled the canvas with the unknown. Where no-one can hear you scream, so they say. During and after shut down, people connected with them in an enormous way. Those colors and worlds/space that I created gave people hope again. Rebuilt who I am. Gave me the energy that I needed to be where I am now.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a sales manager by day for an alcohol distributor in Texas. I get to work with some of the coolest, lesser known brands from across the world and with a team that inspires me every day. It took a long time to get to where I am and build the team that I absolutely adore. Insanely lucky and grateful for this moment in life.

Aside from that, I’ve been painting for about 24 years. It started as a hobby for myself. Honestly, I got tired of the color of my bedroom furniture so I bought some cheap acrylic paints, threw on music and went to town. Just random shapes, flowers, eyes, lips. None of it made sense. It was just something to do and it grew. Literally and figuratively.

I now work on canvases from 24inx24in to 60inx60in. Although most are abstract, almost nothing has been consistent in “subject matter”. Save for 2020-2022ish. The galaxy opened up to me and gave me inspiration to get out of the darkness we were all going through and at the time felt harder than those around me. At least from my perspective.

There have been some really fun commissions over the years. Friends and strangers loving what I do and have asked me to interpret their lives, house or room in my way. Those are truly an honor. I know they aren’t permanent but for someone to ask for a piece of me, what I consider my babies, to be in their every day life is quite an honor. I just finished 2 and am working on some fun stuff in a new color palette. So far things have been very bright and ethereal. Pinks, purples, blues, white, gold, silver. Maybe it’s the change in weather but I’m looking forward to going into some fall, earthy colors. Get my head out of space and back home.

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?

When I meditate and take time to myself, I look back at all 44 years of what got me here. Family, friends, travel, music, art in all forms. They all have impacted exactly who I am now and I don’t take away from any of it. Wouldn’t change any of it. There have been a lot of hard times. Distrust, Liars, Selfishness. At the end of each of those times, looking up and realizing that there has been much more joyous times. Things I’ve done that I never thought I would get to do. Places I’ve traveled to that as a kid in South Texas, were a pipe dream. Italy, Iceland, France, Switzerland. So many places across the US. Most of the time with my husband but he also knows that my time with my friends is very important. Exploring life with and without him keeps us strong and interesting.

As far as advice for anyone out there, it’s always tough to wrap my head around. We all have such different journeys in life, but the circles of friends and colleagues in my life understand a few things that I bring to the table for them.

It’s ok to not be ok. I lean into my moments of despair, hurt, confusion, loss of my sense of self. Figure out where it’s coming from so I know what to fix. Sometimes on my own, sometimes with my therapist. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. I’m a huge advocate for therapy and there are a lot of inexpensive/free options out there. Friends are great, but for lack of a better phrase can be your “yes men”. Objective views from an outsider are invaluable to finding yourself.

Always find a reason to smile or laugh but don’t forget to cry.

Surround yourself with people and moments that bring diversity and experience. It doesn’t always cost money to create something memorable. Sitting around, telling stories, jokes, laughing and crying are some of my favorite moments in life. I seriously take that time once a day to just unload so many stupid stories and sometimes heartbreaking moments to put it all out there. I can’t be afraid to be who I am.

Trust yourself. There’s only one you. If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Everyone around me. And I’m serious.

My parents instilled the work ethic in myself and my siblings. Even when I’m doing my best, I can always be better and learn more.

My worst bosses. I try to not hold a lot of grudges but there are a couple of them out there that I wish could see me now. They have truly inspired me to be the “boss” that I am for my team. Coach and help them in their career. My biggest success stories are the ones that have taken their careers beyond where I am now.

My friends are my world. I’ve lived so many different lives in 44 years and each of them have helped create an entire series of books or movies or tv shows that would be either horrible or the best thing ever! My vote is for the latter.

My husband. 22 years together. Half my life. His love and support and inspiration have been tremendous. I seriously don’t know where I would be without him. Probably still living with my parents/mom.

Contact Info:

• Other: Instagram @mind_of_am3