Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Quintin Alexander. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Quintin, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops 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.
Therapy and self-care have been key for me. I believe one of the main challenges I developed at a young age was the idea that someone else’s perspective of who I am had to be my reality, but my reality didn’t have to exist in my someone else’s momentary experiences with me because people have the ability and opportunity to make changes daily. I also had to learn how to be in a room by myself and love me. The version and authentic version of me is who I love the most. I had to lose people I thought I needed in order to find out the truth about what I wanted and needed, and I can’t thank them enough for that, but it also came with accepting truth about my own faults and understanding that it was okay for me to be a flawed individual without excusing bad actions. So even while dealing with negative connotations, I choose to speak life into myself. If you speak negatively of yourself or constantly rethink of moments in your life where you have fallen short, your mental state will stay the same. I had to choose quickly to walk towards who I see myself as instead of what I wanted others to see on the surface. I know who I am and what my purpose is, and I deserve the opportunity to reach that purpose. That’s enough to overcome anything for me. I’m raising a beautiful son, and I don’t want a repeat of me to be his reason for suffering. That’s been my main clause.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
At heart, I’m an actor, but I am also an focused artist as a whole whether that be behind the scenes work or stepping back and doing the grit work that other might ahy away from or even avoid. I just love to surround myself in the environment where everyone around me is allowed to be creative in their own right without judgement from people who lost their childlike imagination, respectfully. For me, the most exciting part about filmmaking or the stage is never knowing what will actually happen when it time to perform. Of course, you have guidelines and set etiquette to adhere by, but you also have the freedom to let the character choose. I don’t think I have found anything like that in the few years I’ve been on this earth. To be in a place where the very thing that you’ve work so hard at coming to life a creating a moment that will be appreciated by the viewer your aiming to connect with in a way where it can potentially shift their own imagination or perspective. I am taking a hiatus from both the stage and set for a while to focus on a book I’ve been working towards for the past 6 years. I’m very excited about it. Seems like every year I would set out to write, something else would happen and cause me to be thankful I didn’t start it right away. I know this is the right time for it and I have to focus my attention on it. Purpose always shows up when your back is against the wall, well, that’s my reality a majority of the time.
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?
I believe that the three qualities and/or areas of knowledge that were most impactful for me were extreme focus, relentlessness, and belief that God was going to show up every time and guide me through whatever adversity or darkness I was experiencing. The best advice I can offer on development of these specific skill sets is repetition. The reality is that no one will work hard for you. You have to work hard for yourself first, and then others will come along with that same mindset an add value to something you’re shining value on. Hard work can not be taught, but it can be learned by mirror work. At the end of it all, you have to reach a wall that can’t be climb nor dug under before that dog in you comes out and you realize that you’re going to have to either turn around and give up or run through the wall. More often than not, you’re going to choose to run through that wall, but what’s going to make the difference in the journey is how many times you’re willing to do it.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
DeAnna! She’s the reason I’ve been able to do anything at all. In December of 2011, she gave me 12 words that set me on the path I’m on now. They were honest and hard to take, but it was truth that allowed me to see beyond what my mind was taking me at the time. She was there to make sure I kept going when on two people showed up for a performance, and she was there when everything in my house was taken just so I could do a show. When it came time for development or a case study, she was there doing research with me along with walking throughout neighborhoods trying to promote whatever it is I was presenting at the time. When I look back on this journey, she has been the only one person that was consistent to the level I needed to become something other than a could have been dreamer.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quintintheactor?igsh=cDNwYnpmcjR0YW13&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/9t3NdZkixJ4dv3SE/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
