We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amira Scott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
: Hi Amira, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?
My dad loves to tell me the story of how I first exhibited empathy when I was a baby. The pastor of our church had passed away and we were at his funeral. I was maybe 2 years old and didn’t understand exactly what was going on, but I was in my dad’s arms while the service was going on. This loss hit my dad really hard, and I could feel how sad he was. According to him I lifted my head off his chest, looked him in the eye and gave him a big kiss. Since then, my mother and father have really helped to foster my empathy and taught me that it isn’t a weakness but a strength. I grew up trying to make sure I treated people how I wanted to be treated and it really is a core belief of mine to this day. I reject the idea that you become less empathetic as you age. Though it is true that not everyone has your own best interest at heart, I don’t think losing ignorance means you lose the ability to care for others. You can be a deeply empathetic person without becoming a push-over. They aren’t mutually exclusive and it’s never too late to tap back into the innate part of you that cares about others.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am currently a full-time candle maker! I just celebrated two years with my company Serene Terrene Candle Co. which was an exciting milestone. I’ve curated beautiful scents and created a stunning line of terrarium candle creations that have been flying off the shelves and adorn many homes and offices. Currently I’m working on expanding my product line to include new products and more affordable versions of current fan favorites.
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?
Perseverance, passion, and care are what have been the most impactful for me. Without perseverance the downs will make you forget about all the ups you’ve had and stop you from remembering that there are many more ups to come. Without passion you can let imposter syndrome stop you from being who you already are. And without care it’s hard to genuinely connect to an audience that will cheer you on and remind you that you’re not alone in your craft. My advice to ensure that you grow these qualities is to allow yourself to fall in love with what you’re doing. Yes it’s great to find something fun that you may want to make money on, but that can take all of the fun out of it over time. Remember that we aren’t just here to make money and die. Love is such a huge part of the human experience, but love in what you do is often pushed aside and thought of as less important than the love you can share with people. I think we’re taught that from a young age and it’s hard to break that kind of thinking. Putting love into what you do and allowing it to come from what you create is beautiful. It’s art. So, if you fall in love with what you do, you’ll learn how to persevere through the hard times, gain the passion that doesn’t die, and call your audience to you because they can feel how much you care.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am looking for other local businesses to collaborate with currently. I’d love to find other fun and interesting brands that would want to work together to create something new and meaningful to us both. Like curating a specific and exclusive candle line, designing a signature scent for another business, or coming together on dynamic gift sets that represent both artists and the people around us. I want to focus on creating something unique rather than something more generic. Or find people who are into what I’ve created and want to welcome my craft into their spaces. .
Contact Info:
- Website: Sereneterrenecandleco.com
- Instagram: Sereneterrenecandleco
- Facebook: Sereneterrenecandleco
- Other: Email [email protected]
