Meet Lena Jackson

We were lucky to catch up with Lena Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lena , we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hopes 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.
The biggest way I’ve overcome mental health challenges is by completely deconstructing myself, and the ideas of what mental health entails. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety since adolescence-and during a large part of my adult life. More recently, I received an ADHD diagnosis (another condition I already knew was there but was scared to confirm) which has been a huge challenge for me to get a handle on. Ironically though, I’ve had a professional background in mental health for the bulk of my career, and at one point in time I feared being transparent about my own challenges. How could I ever be taken seriously servicing the mental health field, while I also need service? I nearly created a therapeutic monster, providing the skills and education by the book, without ever wanting to see myself in those books. It took a lot of unlearning to realize there’s no shame in receiving help while also giving it. As I’ve come to learn, grow and shed stigma, the mask has come off. I’ve had to analyze all of my fears and frustrations being the type of person I am, and still let that person in the mirror know she’s worthy at every stage of growth. I’m constantly inquisitive about the next chip in my statue, chiseling away at who I’m meant to become. The work on myself is not over, but I’m proud of the work I do.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I hail from Raleigh, North Carolina- a much different Raleigh, NC than one might see in current day. Southside Raleigh, in the 90’s. I grew up poor. POOR poor. Our family often struggled with homelessness, and it played a huge part in my depression. But I do remember the times my father would create an experience to make us completely forget our circumstances, like somehow finding a real tree for Christmas one year (this was a big deal to me at the time) or saving up to take us out to family dinners. But I never felt normal. I never felt all that stable or secure. I started to rely on reading and writing for therapy, where things-be them fact or fiction- just made sense to me. Once I started writing poetry, something in me sparked. Wait, so I can pour my heart out on paper, and no one ever had to know my pain or fear? Just me and my notebook? So, writing saved me. But when I discovered my love for hip-hop, and rapping lyrics instead of reciting prose, I was hooked. And I remain hooked. I love all genres of music, but there’s no greater feeling than me rapping lyrics that I at one point would be too scared to share. And hip-hop will remain an integral part of my existence for the rest of my life. As a recording/performing artist, there are certain looks, styles or images that the music industry goes for. But truthfully, I may not check off a lot of those boxes, and it’s perfectly okay. All these experiences shaped an artist I’m proud to be. My personal slogan is “real life is the brand,” meaning, everything I share musically is a reflection of my real life- not someone’s else vision of how I should act or what I should look like. I exist musically to share a message and celebrate the strides I’ve made, in hopes that someone out there remotely feels what I have felt and wants to listen to my true-life stories. I’ve already released a debut album and a duet album, and this next project expected to drop in 2024 will be a new chapter of growth, resilience and metamorphosis.

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?
Three skills or qualities that stick out for me are: personability, empathy, and discernment. There are so many areas of life where being personable can open more doors than not. What’s funny is that I’m very shy and introverted-but people are often drawn to me, even strangers out in public. And I never deny them that acknowledgement they may want to feel in that moment. I truly want people to feel pleasantly- as it is something I constantly want for myself. Empathy, because putting in that effort to effectively understand someone else can be lifesaving and build awesome bonds. Being aware of someone feeling exhausted, frustrated or anxious for example gives me the ability to prepare the best approach to their needs. This comes in handy both personally and professionally. Discernment, because SHEESH. There are so many ways to be harmed and deceived in business, in our personal lives, and just the overall world! I was a bleeding heart for a long time, with so much optimism and even naivety when it came to how relationships-all kinds of relationships- really worked. Instead of jumping to the extreme of “trust no one,” I developed a much better screening process for who I consort or do business with. People who are early in their journey should know that being personable and empathetic are amazing, fulfilling skills to have- but you also have to keep your eyes open and thoroughly assess people in your circles to avoid harm, manipulation or exploitation.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth in the past twelve months is learning that all bad news, setbacks or negative outcomes aren’t completely catastrophic. I can have REALLY big feelings. I cry often, and this is whether I’m happy, sad, angry, if a song triggers a memory, or if the rain falls just right in a night storm. Yes, my emotions get very intense. So when things actually went wrong, they use to feel like Armageddon inside. An argument, a financial loss, a rumor spread about me-the world is ending! I had to learn how to calm my brain down to effectively work towards the goals I have in mind. Via personal reflection/accountability, meditation, and the overall desire to approach my problems with a sense of composure, I’ve developed a system that helps calm my brain down a bit better. This improves my decision making, my anxiety, and communication in my relationships. This is still a work in progress, but I appreciate the strides I’ve made in my journey.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
8-Bit Photography Phyllis B. Dooney J. Cacao

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