We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ariel Diane King. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ariel Diane below.
Ariel Diane, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
Empathy is a huge part of my job as an actress and this is a grand question which also informs why I have decided to intertwine non-profit work into my life. Where does empathy come from? From experience I can say that growing up in a midwestern city like the south side of Chicago helped build a framework. The foundation I was raised with. Families always holding each other accountable; it instilled a measure to define my values.
The reminder to maintain those strong values and the examples set before me; to put myself in others shoes, give more than you take and try to help out and leave the world better than you left it, contributed. That seemed to be the theme of my parents daily lives, even to this day. During financial turmoil they always found space and resources to give back even without support.
In that time, I asked myself while working with them, what could I do to measure up? It’s humors me now but, I felt that I was lacking as a child in the giving department because I wanted to do it big like my parents so right then and there I decided I should become an actress (totally unaware of the pay scale and learning curves) I felt “sure, I’ll have influence and money and be able to finally match up”.
So those were the conditions but illumination of empathy came from watching them go out into the night with no church to feed people under bridges, neighbors in the community, hold church services without asking for tithes at the time and understanding the “why”. Having the “why” answered by the relief and surprise of those on the recieving end of the charity.
With more life experience, my own struggles definitely would surface from being bullied in school, success and setbacks climbing the career ladder in Los Angeles and filtering who I can rely on and be vulnerable with in times of need most certainly made me develop an understanding of why empathy is one of the most valuable human attributes in the world and why we should find honor in practicing it whenever possible.
It is the most beautiful thing we search for in any person is empathy and understanding, it became a habit in my upbringing but now it is a part of my identity as a human being and as an artist. The more empathy I can have the better my performance will be and when I use the word performance, it is not something that I merely try to put on. This is something that I want to live in the moment with, a person’s truth based on their circumstances, specifics about their history and how it informs their reality in the present, their feelings become my own.
Practicing my craft this way and knowing the joy charity brings from experience drove me to launch my own platform CAVEU and continue life in a fulfilling way, as a founder I’ve joined the California Climate Action Corps during the strike in our industry to gain invaluable experience and practice empathy in the face of adversity. You cannot lead if you cannot serve, I look forward to connecting with other groups and individuals that pursue a lifestyle of empathy. It really does increase the quality of life and purpose. The path CAN be an up hill battle, especially one that most of the time depends on your own self start fuel and the kindness of others when it comes to next level fundraising but the more we connect and practice, the better it gets. I’m willing to continue this pursuit forever because of what it gives back to me, a challenging purpose worth living.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Depending on the nature of the contract, I do have a show coming out on BET but since I am not completely clear if this falls into territory I am unable to chat about I can only say to look out for me in October and any updates on my acting can be found announced on my instagram if I am able to post on it.
As far as my non-profit work, I’ve decided to dive in and serve not only with the California Climate Action Corps but also The Hollywood Food Coalition, I look forward to spreading awareness about how these organizations are serving the community and how people can find them to volunteer or get the resources they need.
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?
Be optimistic, I have never regretted it and it opens doors you never would have seen without a positive out look. Things don’t always go our way but we can learn from that.
Know a higher power, I would not be where I am today in my joy without spiritual guidance, counsel and peace. I won’t dive super deep into it but Yeshua has been the best decision I have ever made. we don’t always have the answers, sometimes our best doesn’t give us the results we want, sometimes the answer is not yet, times get tough. Having something that can speak to your inner self and pushes you to keep going in the face of impossible odds is priceless.
Practice your boundaries, while we want to spread our positive outlook we must protect our journey and take care of ourselves to help others, figure out what your boundaries are and you can avoid a lot of mistakes.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
At this time, I would love to collaborate and highlight individuals making a difference. The world has seen enough of the other stuff, it’s time to bring back the light. People need to know that there is more good than bad in the communities around them, that there are people that care and they need to see examples to follow. I’d love to interview some guests and spread this to people on my platform and as far as it can spread. We really need it right now.
Contact Info:
- Website: caveu.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arieldking/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/arieldking
Image Credits
Aaron Lacy Hollywood Food Coalition Oxana Alex Society 22
