Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Devon Goodwin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Devon, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose through my own personal struggles with mental health, as well as the struggles of those around me. My discovery began when I noticed my younger brother, Wil, experiencing severe anxiety. I wanted to help him and others who were struggling with this mental illness. It really became important to me when I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder in 2017 after a suicide attempt. I already had Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but this was the icing on the cake (as far as diagnoses go). After that, I worked on educating myself about my own mental illnesses, before broadening my knowledge on other mental illnesses. Thus, I found my purpose.
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?
My name is Devon Goodwin, the Chief Arts and Prevention Officer for Light of the World LLC (LWICORP), specifically under our S.T.E.A.M. initiative, which stands for “Suicide Prevention Through Education, Arts, Anime, and Music.” My personal experiences with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder drive my unwavering advocacy for Mental Health, and I also have a background in Substance Misuse Prevention.
I come from Hayden, AL, and I earned my Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with a minor in Sociology. I’m passionate about Criminal Psychology and have been involved in various student organizations during my academic journey.
In my role, I help LWICORP come up with new and creative ways to express oneself through creative arts, such as our Break Away the Stress activity, where we encourage individuals to write down what they don’t like about themselves or what’s currently stressing them out, then smash it onto the ground, symbolizing taking back the power to make their own decisions and feel the way they want to feel. Additionally, we participate in the Out of the Darkness Walk, furthering our commitment to suicide prevention and mental health awareness. I also facilitate Substance Misuse prevention activities, such as attending the Birmingham, AL “End Addiction” walk each year, and I provide resources to those in need on this subject. For self-care, I love to crochet, write poetry, and spend time with my cat, Jasper.
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?
My main skills, in my opinion would be, listening to others, finding healthy ways to express mental health through creative arts, and my willingness to help others when they need help.
My advice to others on how to obtain these skills are trying imagining you are on the opposite side of the situation. Imagine you are the one who needs someone to listen to you or someone to help you when you need it. As long as you remember that, these skills will come easily to you. As for finding healthy ways to express mental health through creative arts, I learned these skills through my years in therapy.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I am overwhelmed, I often will take a step back and look at what I currently have on my plate of things to do. If it is too much for me to handle, I will try to reach out to a friend or colleague to help me finish the task so it is not strictly on me. I also find that dissociating while scrolling on my phone is a good way for me to recharge and take my mind off what is bothering me until I’m ready to continue with the task at hand. It keeps me more calm and less likely to get angry from the frustration of it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lwicorp.org/
Image Credits
Xavian Tate
