Meet Anna East

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anna East. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anna below.

Hi Anna, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?

My mom always said, “No one is gonna come knocking on your door.” She meant that if I wanted to do something, I had to step into the world and announce that I was interested in doing something. People can’t read your mind, but in my experience, they are paying attention. If you feel you need to take risks in order to shift your life, then there is a good chance the universe is just waiting for you to step forward.

So, how did I develop my ability to take risks? In my twenties, I held my preparation with a solid helping of fear and jumped into the deep end. To an outsider, it probably looks like my life is full of risk. Moving to a new country on my own at 19, then living in 4 different countries over the next 8 years… Working a summer in Alaska just out of curiosity, living a life as a performer and then artist, living out of suitcases and storage units, making short films as I go… I have taken a lot of risks, yes, but in the past a lot of them were calculated.
I knew someone who recommended the Japanese company, my college friend hired me in AK, I saved money by paring down, and I worked in a field I had studied for over a decade. I didn’t have a lot of financial restraints besides college debt and a car payment.
However, I have done the opposite of risk-taking over the last two years. I’ve signed up for leases, adopted a cat, and stayed in a steady job… I did this to endure the hardship of a sibling battling cancer and the grief that has come with it. But as I come out of the safety that supported me during this time, I am grappling with the fact that these choices do not serve me anymore. I have learned some pretty valuable lessons from this grounded time, but I know that I am built for that life of “risk taking”, and I know how sweet it can be to bet on your excitement.
In this portion of my life, I’m taking advice from younger me to trust in myself, stay open, and just show up.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am primarily a performer, filmmaker, and writer who is interested in the experience of awe, immersive design, and storytelling. Nature leads a large part of what I do, with a side of magic and curiosity.

I am currently stepping into a new phase of collaboration, installation art, and community building. I create and perform in shows and media locally in the Southeast of the US, and am looking forward to co-hosting creative workshops, retreats, and welcoming spaces.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that have impacted my journey:

Adaptability – Be willing to learn something new. Be willing to be new. Be willing to problem solve.
Observation – Take in your surroundings, watch others, notice patterns, and learn.
Self-Trust – Trust your instincts, your gut, your skills, and your excitement.

I was born observative, but I have learned that it is a useful skill, especially before speaking.
Adaptability came next, as I learned that I don’t always have to be perfect at everything in order to do it—I just have to be willing to try. Being adaptable has given me many chances to be in spaces where I can use existing skills to learn or execute a new skill.
Trusting myself has been the longest quality for me to understand, but it comes from practice, over and over again. I do not regret the choices I make when I trust myself.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

I’ll be real–I am going back to freelance/independent contracting full-time, and the one thing I see as a challenge is creating as much financial stability as possible while spending my time and energy on projects I actually feel aligned with. I currently am practicing discernment, but it does feel like a new skill–when to say yes, and when to say no, regardless of how much money I may make. I feel like I have to get creative about new pathways of finding income and think outside of the box.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Christy Parry

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