Meet Eileen Roman

We recently connected with Eileen Roman and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Eileen, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I think resilience looks different for every person and situation. But for me, I think a large part of it comes from having a naturally curious personality. I’m naturally curious about not just the world around me, how things are interconnected, and about my passions, but also about who I am, and how far I can actually go in terms of personal growth and a personal journey. No matter the limitations I may encounter. It’s basically the concept of limitation breeds creativity. If I only have the color blue available, but I want to paint a rainbow, how would I do it? I may need to look at it from a different angle or perspective. I’ve been given the gift of this life, this body, these circumstances, for better or worse, and I’m curious to see what I can do with it all.
What are my actual limits? Can I bend them, remove them, or redefine them? In that respect, some of my resilience is the passion and curiosity I have for myself, getting to know who I am, and my own capabilities. There’s a bit of being self-competitive in a way that’s encouraging, not reprimanding or toxic. I just want to see if I can, or how close I can get to whatever goal it is I’m looking at. And if I reach that goal, could I actually go further still? That idea’s so fun to me. It’s like I’m always at play, and when I think about it, it feels like such a joyful way to be.
And that’s not to say that things are always easy, or all goals are achieved, or that hard work will always pay off in the way your expect. But it’s the concept of a door closes, and a window opens. I tend to look for windows. And if I don’t see any or they’re also closed, I look for other avenues. I think it’s healthy to say “it is what it is”, when facing setbacks. But that thought on its own isn’t complete. You need to complete it – “It is what it is, so given that, what are the available options now”.
It’s a good chance to take a moment and check in with yourself. Reflect on what you’re trying to achieve and if it’s still what you want. Let the ego go. Acknowledge the current circumstances and be present and accepting of yourself. Limitations change, people change, goals change. Allow yourself to mourn the changes so you can embrace the present and new possibilities. Be fluid and gracious with yourself.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I think like most creatives, my passions tend to overlap. I’m a singer/songwriter and artist/designer.
I’m currently working solo on a couple of original songs, and teaching myself about mixing and production. I’ve sang in a few different bands over the years, all varying genres, but this is the first time that I’ve really committed myself so fully to my music. I absolutely loved being in a band, and the sweaty smell of a practice space is so nostalgic and creatively rich for me. But this opportunity to take my time, to write and arrange my words, and discover my sound has been a immensely rewarding.

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?

For me, I think hands down the most important skillset is self awareness and compassion. Practice being present. Check in with yourself, and honestly accept yourself, as you are, in the present moment. Accepting yourself is not about excusing hurtful, or harmful behaviors or thoughts (including to or about yourself or others). And it’s not about staying stagnant or saying “well I guess this all I’ll ever be”. It’s about allowing yourself to really see you, fully, without judgement. Give yourself unconditional love and compassion. If there are things you’d like to change, that’s fine. But don’t shame who you are in the present or who you were. Practice self awareness and compassion. Emphasis on the word “practice”.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

If I can, I step away and do something completely different, which could include doing absolutely nothing. There are times when I’m working on a song of mine, or working on a new design, and I realize that I’ve become indecisive, or that the negative inner voices have started chatting away. I can feel myself just starting to physically slump, and my energy start to drain. Those are the times when I stop what I’m doing. I’m not present in the moment anymore when that happens, and I’m not appreciating the journey. Take a break. If you’re able, do whatever physical activity you enjoy (for me it’s baseball, weight lifting, or swimming). Make a delicious meal, take a nap, take a walk, go to the beach or the movies. Refresh and clear your mind. If you’re on a schedule that doesn’t allow for much personal time, sometimes just going into the next room, or sitting in a different chair, away from what you were doing, can really help.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @eileenromanofficial
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/eileen-roman/1631765084

Image Credits

Ivy Salazar, Jeremy Saffer, Violet Grae