Meet Philip Bedwell

We recently connected with Philip Bedwell and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Philip, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.

My optimism and positivity have developed from constantly questioning, reframing and redefining myself. I’ve had to make many mistakes with situations and people and have a willingness to learn from what I could’ve done better and where I also know how to forgive myself and others.

In my earlier life I was predisposed to always be pushing forward, to never enjoy success and, unfortunately, living in a mindset of always lacking something. I feel many get stuck in this cycle of when they hit the next goal or get the next thing then they will be complete or happy.

The answer for me was to understand that I can be content, balanced and happy now if I choose to be grateful for my life. This doesn’t mean that I’m not aware of hardships and losses I’ve suffered or that I’m not ambitious or disciplined in pursuit of a goal. But I practice daily gratitude now to give thanks and recognition of what I do have and have achieved. To remember the ones who have helped me and to be able visualize my incredible future.

I feel my potential is limitless, and I’m so excited to explore this universe and strive to live my life to the fullest and help others to do so too through my art and storytelling.

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?

At present I get the incredible opportunity to express my creativity through multiple avenues, I’m an Actor, Performance Artist, Podcaster, Professional Wrestler and I also have been able to work as a Yoga, Fitness and Flow Mentor. I feel blessed that I can explore so many pathways to reach people and follow curiosities. I love seeing the connections between different disciplines and being able to redefine my own definitions of my art and my “self.”

Recently I’ve been given the chance to further explore the concept and question of identity with assistance and a grant from the Arts Council England. I’m producing a multi-disciplinary artwork project called “Embracing Identity.” I’m working with a host of artists throughout Europe to reflect on my own identity and enable the live and online audience to meditate and question theirs too.

Through live Q&As, workshops, podcasts and performances I will strive to identify what makes us who we are. What labels are given to us by society, what do we learn, how do our passions shape us and how time can change our self-perception?

I’m so excited for as many people as possible to engage with the work. There are regular updates of all the events taking place on my Instagram @philipbedwell, so please follow me to find out more!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

This is such a great question! I’m lucky that I’ve journaled for so long but I’d never read back on any of my previous writing until recently. This was very revealing to me, I was amazed by how many cycles I was choosing to unconsciously follow and the values I was choosing to invest in.

So a massive skill to invest in is to take the time for self-reflection in a form that suits you and also to learn to change your patterns and not just repeat habits that could hurt you or others. Learn to be present with just you, ask yourself the necessary questions and listen for the answers. Be comfortable BEING. And make sure to record these sessions in some way so you can question and change perceptions that you feel limit you or your relationships.

Seek out a friend, family or professional who can listen and guide if necessary too. I have an amazing connection with Rhiannon Okoye, a Hypnotherapist and great friend who has helped me make sense of my past and to be able to visualize a magical future. I’m also very fortunate to have had a friend since childhood, Paul Dew, who has always been there for me in times of trouble and has also been an inspiration to me in how much he’s grown and developed as a man.

The second skill I would advise is to listen. I draw “LLL” on my wrist every morning as a reminder to “Listen Listen Listen.” Listen to yourself, your heart, soul and spirit. Listen to nature, the stillness and abundance of life, it will guide you to your passions and curiosities. And listen to others, connect and enjoy the times of just sharing the love and joy of being with them without distraction or constraint. Be comfortable with the normal too. Remember not everything has to be an epic event and some of the biggest changes and memories come from an almost imperceptible passing.

Finally, I would say work on your mental and physical health. Both of these are gifts we aren’t aware of until they are taken from us. I have been in times of loss with both and the greatest fortune I’ve had in being able to recover each. I’m lucky, I have incredible friends surrounding me and a wonderful sister and her family in Scotland too. They’ve supported me through difficult times and given me lessons on not only how to endure but how to thrive in life.

Take the time to find the exercises and disciplines that enable you to explore this universe without restriction or pain. Giving this time to yourself to heal and grow isn’t selfish. Remember you are the constant in every relationship you will have. If you haven’t given the necessary emotional and physical resilience and love to yourself how will you be able to lift others?

I always believe the greatest state we can be in is a state of giving willingly and selflessly without any expectation of anything in return. If we could all be in this state of selflessness and abundance, how wonderful would that be?

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Well, I have many avenues I’m exploring, but it’s my acting and art which have such momentum at the moment. I love becoming other characters, reading scripts and uncovering who they are and why they do what they do. I explore without judgement and through acting and storytelling I gain a greater understanding of my values and personality. I love being able to offer up a performance, an emotional resonance that will connect with others and they, in turn, can offer their feelings and thoughts back to me.

So, it’s finding those stories for me, any directors, producers, actors or writers who wish to collaborate, please get in touch!

The “Embracing Identity” art project will also be continuing for the rest of the year, but I see this becoming an ongoing project. As well as connecting with any other artists, I just am excited to converse with as many people as possible and hear their thoughts about identity and how they choose to shape and embrace theirs.

I’d love to have a conversation online or in person and would love to offer a platform for them to speak their truth too. You can connect with me through Instagram @philipbedwell.

I am full of enthusiasm and joy on this journey, I hope after reading this you’d like to accompany me.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Main Picture Jazamin Sinclair

1 – Sandrine Vaco
2 – Mick Child
3 – Giovanni Messi Messina
4 – Grae Davidson
5 – “The Acolyte” Disney+
6 – “The Beast” Film
7 – Terry Dormer

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