We were lucky to catch up with Ciara Love recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ciara , so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
When I was 21 years old, I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. I have always struggled with depression and especially anxiety, but I never thought it could be anything more than that. In the midst of the pandemic I was forced to face the reality of this disorder alone. I was unable to gain access to the resources I needed. Therapists were not accepting new patients, the ones that were didn’t accept my insurance and without a therapist I could not get the medication I needed. I had to learn very quickly how to self-medicate in order to continue leading the life I wanted effectively. So to answer your question, here are the top three things I do for self-care and how they impact my effectiveness.
First and most importantly, I need to go outside everyday. Whether that means going on a walk, to a park, on a hike, or simply basking in the sun. Being in nature is the best form of self-care I have found for myself. It allows my mind to take a break and just be in the moment for a little while before returning to the hustle and bustle of life. If there is a day when I am unable to do so, I find that I am very unproductive and I end up feeling bad about myself at the end of the day. I always feel so much more motivated and grounded when I incorporate this form of self-care, allowing me to work on my schooling or my business more effectively.
Another thing that I do everyday is practice music therapy. If you’ve never heard of music therapy or don’t know much about it, I highly recommend researching it. Music therapy does wonders for your physical, mental and emotional state. I am currently a music major at Berklee College of Music and have taken multiple classes on the subject. I have learned many exercises that I practice daily including progressive muscle relaxation, breath work, singing/humming, meditation and affirmations. All of these exercises are accompanied by music or involve music in some way, whether that’s listening to music while I do them or singing. This has helped me immensely with my anxiety and being able to recognize and control any negative emotions and thoughts before they take over and cause a downward spiral of self doubt. Music is a very important part of my life that I have chosen as a career path which is why music therapy as a form of self-care has helped me immensely with my effectiveness.
Lastly, I make a conscious effort of setting aside time for myself to do whatever I want to do. Usually that time consists of being with the people I love most. My family, friendships and my partner are the most important parts of my life and I know that I would not be where I am today without their support and encouragement. CiLo Sounds may have never came into existence without them. If my mom hadn’t always encouraged me to do what made me happy I may have never gone to the college I currently attend. If my partner didn’t support me 100% and constantly remind me that I am stronger than I give myself credit for I may have dropped out by now or not pursued a business of my own. Without my friends on the side lines being the most enthusiastic cheer leaders a girl could ask for, I have no idea where my life would be right now. I do know that it wouldn’t be as great as it is. I am the best version of myself when I am around them and knowing that those are the people that I have chosen to be by my side through life makes me very proud. They nurture me in ways they don’t even realize, so to spend time with them is the sweetest form of self-care that I can get.
I am 23, almost 24 now. I have a therapist and access to the resources I need which I am very grateful for and understand is a privilege. However, even with all those things that I thought would cure me when I was 21, I still struggle with my mental health everyday. My effectiveness depends on many aspects of my life, but without these forms of self-care I would be very lost today.
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 am a DJ and the owner of CiLo Sounds LLC. I honestly chose to DJ as a career path completely out of impulse. I saw that my college offered a DJ course and thought it sounded fun so I enrolled for fall quarter of 2023. I was really enjoying the course and having so much fun learning and perfecting the art of DJing. My instructor Mike Henderson was an amazing mentor and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from him. I decided to research career paths and how much money could be made. I figured I have all the equipment and the knowledge, why not capitalize on that? So I started my business in February of this year (2024). It’s definitely still a work in progress and I have a long ways to go, but knowing that this is all working towards a bigger dream and doing something I love makes me so excited.
I think what makes this line of work so special is that I am the one who sets the tone for an event. I get to create moments for people while also witnessing it with my own eyes. I get to be apart of some of the most important parts of people’s lives and I have a genuine passion for making a difference. Especially when it comes to a wedding, the DJ is a crucial decision when choosing your vendors. If you don’t have a good DJ it can make or break a wedding. That can be a lot of pressure for a DJ but it is one thousand percent worth it to be able to have that impact.
My goal for next year is to monetize my business and curate my aesthetic to be exactly how I envision it. I plan to graduate in December of 2025 and from there I want to use my degree to become a vocal coach full time while DJing on the weekends. I am currently learning piano as well and hope to one day incorporate that into my business by performing and singing at events.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I’d say my knowledge of music has been the most important and impactful part of my journey. I have an appreciation for all types of music and don’t limit my intake to only certain genres. I’m constantly scouring Spotify for new music and different genres I’m less familiar with. It’s very important as a DJ to have a vast knowledge of music or else you end up limiting yourself with events you’re able to work.
A skill of mine that has had a huge impact on my journey is singing and songwriting. Creating music has led me to meet so many incredible people in the music industry and gain knowledge from them. My producer Kyle Leng (owner of Cold Clock Productions) is a big reason why I attend Berklee College of Music. He wrote a letter of recommendation for my application and has always provided the best support, advice and guidance in my music creating. I’ve had the honor of being apart of so many incredible projects that included writing lyrics for people and being featured in songs.
I am a very strong willed individual. If I want to do something I will do everything I can to make it happen. The same goes for if I don’t want to do something, I will say no and not let people guilt me into anything. This quality has gotten me very far in my journey. I am a very emotional and sensitive individual as well so these personality traits often clash, but I have learned to have confidence in my decisions and not question myself. My advice to anyone who is early in their journey is to not doubt yourself. Be unapologetically you and make the big moves. Don’t live your life in fear or for anyone else, because at the end of it all you don’t want to look back and regret how you lived your life.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
A big challenge I am currently facing when it comes to my business is imposter syndrome. Being a new business owner has its challenges of figuring out what works and doesn’t work for you and sometimes you have to learn that the hard way. I know that I will make mistakes along the way, it’s inevitable, but it scares me to think about. I have moments of self doubt where I feel like I may have chosen the wrong path and my business will never reach the amount of success I want it to. I worry that there isn’t room for me in the industry and since there are others that already have a reputation I will never be the first choice. I try to remember that those people were once exactly where I am. I remind myself that I need to be patient but also stay dedicated and work hard in order to get where I want to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cilosounds.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cilosounds?igsh=MTZsY3E2NjYyaDA2aw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cilosoundsllc?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Nikki Norton
Valerie Mendez
Taylor Lieder
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