We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danica Feuz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Danica, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hope that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice-we are not doctors. You should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
My mental health issues first presented themselves during my first job after college, at a media publishing house. I was at the top of my career, having just been awarded a trip to our European offices after successfully driving the highest sales revenue in the New York office for Q3 of 2019. Around that time, I had my first panic attack—in the middle of a meeting, no less. This experience took a toll on me in ways I never imagined. I struggled to come into the office, paralyzed by the fear that another one of these new and terrifying episodes might occur. My body was in such frequent distress that, with my tail between my legs, I requested permission from HR to work from home. The increased frequency of these experiences, something I’d never encountered before and didn’t know how to handle, left me with no alternative.
So, how did I overcome these challenges? Well, in short—I didn’t. It completely sucked. After a few months of brain fog and an inability to perform at my previous level of rigor, I was fired.
Overcoming challenges—which everyone will face at one point or another in their lives, whether in careers, friendships, or relationships—requires embracing moments of growth and change. What initially felt like such a bleak ending at 23 ultimately became the change I needed. I had no intention of slowing down or changing my lifestyle, but my body had other plans: it stopped me in my tracks. As a stubborn, hard-working woman who thrived on the rat race, it was incredibly frustrating that my mind wanted to do things my body simply couldn’t allow.
But, boy did it teach me! I learned about my strengths, weaknesses, and most importantly, how to communicate my needs in future roles. Looking back at this period of my life, I feel gratitude and acceptance. These were lessons I needed to learn. Even though I didn’t want to face them at the time, I am so much better for it now.
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?
Currently, I am a creative strategist on a wonderful team called StoryStudio within Hearst’s vast network of companies. My role requires me to be an active storyteller, turning client concepts into beautiful written words, photos, and videos that reach targeted audiences through guaranteed impressions. I am constantly amazed by the capabilities of my coworkers and continuously learning new tricks of the trade.
That said, work-life balance is incredibly important to me, and I firmly believe in building my worth outside the office in addition to achieving milestones behind my desk. I immerse myself in the world of content creation by freelancing for companies, creating social media content for my own food and lifestyle Instagram page, @HUBBA_HUBBBA, conducting street-style interviews, or saying yes to new opportunities in fashion and hospitality.
Ultimately, I resonate with artists, which becomes most evident when I’m capturing snippets of my downtime on film—preserving memories either to share publicly as a way to flex my creative muscles or to keep as private tokens of happiness for myself.
I will admit to having big ideas and allowing fear to hold me back—like recording podcast episodes I never release, writing blogs I never publish, or walking away from a half-painted canvas. However, I believe it’s important to stop making art something that always has to be monetized or lead to greater achievements. Sometimes, the very act of creating and putting oneself out there—no matter the scale—is an act of courage that holds more value than the finished product.
I am in awe of the life I’ve created for myself, the trials and tribulations I’ve endured in my twenties, and the connections I’ve made that have allowed me to live and work in what I believe to be the greatest city in the world—New York City. If you take anything away from my story today, I hope it’s the reminder that art can be messy. You don’t need to be perfect or wait for someone’s permission to be whoever you want to be. Keep creating and playing! As Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up.”
What do I see in my future? I hope to build a community of creators who uplift one another instead of being staunch competitors. Everyone wants to create, and no two people approach it the same way. Reminding people that there’s room at the top for everyone to flourish is a message I am passionate about sharing, especially with those who are struggling. Recently, I’ve been exploring event planning by hosting dinner parties and organizing “Content and Coffee” dates to bring people together. I look forward to continuing this journey, setting deeper roots, and meeting more of you along the way!
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?
Resilience—You don’t want to know how many times I’ve crashed and burned to get to where I am today. I used to resent when people said, “What’s meant for you will never pass you by,” because try saying that to a girl who has fought tooth and nail for every job interview and opportunity for years! I’ve endured hundreds—truly, hundreds—of “no’s” to eventually receive some big “yes’s.” It has been an emotional and grueling journey. But resilience is paramount to success, and nothing worth having comes easily.
Gall—Being bold has opened more doors for me than I could have ever imagined. In fact, I landed a job at a marketing agency once while working as a waitress. How? By simply asking if someone at the table was hiring, in between serving martinis, after overhearing their work involved notable celebrities and brands. Closed mouths don’t get fed. At the end of the day, I’d rather be able to say I gave something my all than wonder what could have been if I’d stayed silent.
Self-Love—This, arguably, is the most important skill I’ve built over the years. Self-love is the foundation of everything. It gives us space to grieve on the hardest days. It serves as a reminder of our worth—that we are deserving and capable of anything we put our minds to because we are in the driver’s seat of our lives. In fact, I attribute my most recent career shift to deep self-love practices. Before every interview, I spent an hour repeating positive affirmations, reminding myself of my potential and worth. It was a transformative ritual, empowering me to show up as my most confident and authentic self. It might feel silly at first to stand in front of a mirror and say things like, “I am grateful for the abundance in my life. I love and accept myself completely. I am worthy of happiness and success.” But our words and thoughts shape our reality, and pouring love into my own cup is my tell-tale secret for putting my best foot forward—despite any imposter syndrome or concerns about qualifications on paper.
Sometimes, self-love means walking away from friendships or jobs that don’t serve, support, or value me. And putting this into practice has not been easy, especially for the people-pleaser in me who craves to be loved and understood. But, deciding that my own opinion of myself matters more than what anyone else might think has been an incredibly powerful way for me to navigate life. Above all, I remind myself that nobody else can bring what I bring to the table. And the same is true for you.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
As someone who has navigated career twists and faced the frustration of struggling to get a foot in the door, I want anyone taking the time to read this to know my inbox is always open for advice, support, or just a thoughtful conversation.
I’m deeply passionate about learning, creating, and bringing fresh ideas to life. And whether you’re looking to host events in New York City, collaborate on a creative project, need someone to manage social media, or co-create something extraordinary through film or photography, I’d love to join forces—let’s connect and make something incredible happen!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @HUBBA_HUBBBA and @Danicafeuz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danica-feuz-567486a5/
- Other: TikTok: Danicafeuz_
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