We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Briana Boyd a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Briana, 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?
I believe that empathy, like many other traits, develops through a combination of nature and nurture. Some of my empathy and desire to serve others stem from my ancestry. My maternal grandmother was an incredible giver and a mother figure in her community. Despite her challenging upbringing, which could have made her cold and uncaring, she instinctively knew how to show love. I like to think I’ve inherited some of her values.
Although my time with my paternal grandmother was limited, I still felt her effort and love. She showed her affection in small, everyday actions—like letting me choose something I loved at the market, playing with me outside, and going out of her way to cater to me as a child.
Beyond my familial influences, my life experiences have deepened my appreciation for compassion and empathy. Losing both my father and uncle to mental illness is a pain that stays with me. I like to think that the therapy I receive, the resources I have access to, and the holistic practices I try are not just for me—they are for them too, experienced together in a spiritual sense.
My own mental health struggles have acquainted me with emotional suffering, fostering a greater awareness and a different perspective. This has ignited a passion in me to provide the understanding and support I didn’t always receive.
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?
My name is Briana Boyd, a 31-year-old Brooklyn native currently living in Los Angeles since late 2020. NYC taught me many lessons about culture, resilience, and common ground. After working in the music industry for over 13 years, I am now pursuing self-employment to gain more control over my life and to help others along the way.
I founded Insula Collective, a mental health initiative dedicated to supporting the BIPOC community. As a certified peer support specialist with personal experience overcoming mental health challenges, I lead Insula Collective in providing both online and in-person support groups. These groups create safe, culturally sensitive spaces for sharing, healing, and empowerment. Our mission is to foster resilience and well-being through community support, with plans to expand our offerings to include events and retreats. By addressing the unique mental health needs of marginalized communities, we aim to reduce stigma and increase access to essential resources.
I am deeply committed to helping black and brown communities, having personally observed and experienced many of these inequities. Through Insula Collective, I strive to make a meaningful impact and promote mental health and wellness in these communities.
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?
The three skills or qualities that have been most impactful in my life is intuition, emotional intelligence, and drive.
I think the advice I would give to others is to trust yourself and develop a strong relationship with self. Truth is, you probably already have a strong sense of self, it’s just hard to have these things nurtured in the world we live in. Learn what makes you tick, challenge yourself to learn something new in an effort to learn more about YOU.
It’s okay to be more sensitive or kind. It doesn’t make you weak. It’s a beautiful thing that should be more appreciated.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes! I feel that collaboration is essential and that’s the “collective” in Insula Collective.
I want to work more with holistic practitioners and mental health workers alike. I want to expand the reach and awareness of peer support so that I can be of service. I am a new business owner and would love to gain and share insights with other like-minded individuals. Let’s talk!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://insulacollective.com
- Instagram: insulacollective
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianapearlboyd
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