Meet Sarah Faye Doney

We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Faye Doney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah Faye, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. 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.

How I Persisted and Grew Through Mental Health Challenges

Mental health has been an ongoing journey for me, full of both setbacks and breakthroughs. There have been times when the weight of my mental health felt overwhelming, but what’s kept me going is recognizing the deep connection between my healing and the strength of my community.

There was a time when I felt entirely lost, trapped in my own mind. Financial insecurity, stress, and the overwhelming state of the world often made me feel like I couldn’t cope. The pressure of trying to survive in a system where meeting basic needs becomes a challenge was something that weighed heavily on me. When you’re constantly worrying about how to get through the next day, it becomes hard to find space to breathe, let alone heal.

I’ve realized that addressing mental health isn’t just about internal work. It’s about changing the environment we live in and creating spaces that support wellness in tangible ways. That’s how Questify Life came into being. I wanted to create something that encouraged people to quest toward healing—not just emotionally or mentally but in ways that help us tackle those larger societal challenges too.

One of the key things I’ve learned in overcoming my mental health struggles is the importance of community. I’ve seen firsthand how creating networks of support and connection can help ease the burden. In fact, the first time I shared openly about my mental health struggles, it was at an open mic. I stood in front of everyone and shared that I had been suicidal the week before. It was terrifying, but necessary. What followed was a ripple of vulnerability—other people came forward, sharing how they too had felt that way and how the community saved them. That night, I learned the power of being seen and heard, and how being honest about our struggles can bring us together.

Persisting through my mental health challenges has also been about getting creative with solutions. I’ve developed rituals for self-care, and I’ve learned to sit with the discomfort when I need to heal. But I don’t stop there. By understanding what works for me—whether it’s mindfulness, creating structure, or leaning on my community—I can pass that knowledge on to others. Questify Life became a way to channel that process into something practical. It’s not just about surviving; it’s about questing, growing, and thriving together.

I believe financial security and mental health go hand in hand. That’s why I dream of a world where people’s positive actions—like community clean-ups or acts of service—are rewarded in ways that provide more than emotional satisfaction. Financial backers can play a huge role in ensuring that our quests for personal and collective healing aren’t just voluntary but sustainable. I want to create environments where we can empower each other, share resources, and heal not only ourselves but the cracks in our communities.

By leaning into my community, sharing my story, and developing Questify Life, I’ve found a path through my mental health challenges that allows me to heal—and help others do the same.

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

My Story and What I’m Focused On Professionally

Professionally, my heart and focus are with Questify Life, a project I created to help individuals and communities transform their everyday lives into purposeful quests. It combines elements of gamification, personal growth, and social impact, offering a way to navigate both personal challenges and larger societal issues, like mental health, financial insecurity, and environmental concerns. What I love most about it is the way it encourages people to see their actions as meaningful steps toward a better world—for themselves and for their communities.

Questify Life isn’t just a project or a business. It’s a way of life that empowers people to actively engage with their own well-being and the health of their communities. Through gamified adventures, it encourages participants to work toward real-world goals in areas like sustainability, self-care, and social impact. By creating quests, people get to challenge themselves in fun, engaging ways, while also earning real rewards, both personal and communal.

What’s exciting about Questify Life is that it’s evolving. Recently, I’ve been working on expanding the project into more digital spaces—developing an app and connecting with people who can help us scale our impact. At the same time, I’ve stayed true to the tactile experience that keeps participants present, using physical zines, community gatherings, and activities that encourage people to step away from their phones and into the moment. The goal is to combine the best of both worlds: the immediacy and accessibility of technology with the grounding and connection of in-person experiences.

One of the biggest things I’m working on right now is increasing Questify Life’s visibility and getting financial backers who believe in the power of grassroots, community-driven projects. For example, I’m working toward creating community clean-up quests where participants don’t just volunteer—they quest and receive meaningful, tangible rewards for their efforts. I want people to feel like their positive actions are valued in a way that goes beyond emotional satisfaction and can help build financial stability.

I’ve also been focused on building connections between different creative communities. Here in Portland, I’ve been working with filmmakers, musicians, and artists, helping them find resources and partners for their projects. Connecting people with places like Open Signal, where they can access the tools and knowledge to create films, has been a powerful way to empower the local creative scene. It’s amazing to see how those connections blossom into collaborative projects that enrich the whole community.

Looking ahead, I’m really excited about some upcoming events and launches. We’re working on expanding Questify Life into more community hubs, offering workshops, and introducing new quests that address everything from environmental sustainability to mental health. I also have plans to work more with financial backers who believe in this vision of community empowerment through meaningful quests. The goal is to continue building systems that not only help people navigate their personal challenges but also strengthen the community as a whole.

What I want people to know about Questify Life is that it’s a movement. It’s a way to reconnect with yourself and your community, and to feel like you’re making a real difference. Whether you’re an artist looking for collaborators, someone who wants to take more positive action in your community, or someone searching for a deeper sense of purpose, Questify Life offers a path forward. We’re all on this quest together.

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

Three Qualities That Were Most Impactful in My Journey

Looking back, I’d say three key qualities or skills were absolutely essential in my journey: resilience, creativity, and community-building. Each of these not only helped me overcome challenges but also shaped the way I approach life and work through Questify Life.

1. Resilience: This has been the foundation of everything I do. Whether it’s dealing with financial struggles, mental health challenges, or simply navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, resilience has kept me going. It’s about being able to face setbacks, adapt, and continue moving forward even when the path ahead isn’t clear. For anyone early in their journey, I’d say this: Understand that setbacks are inevitable. What matters is how you respond. Build your resilience by allowing yourself to fail, learn from it, and keep pushing forward. Find small wins along the way that remind you of your progress and that you’re on the right path.

2. Creativity: Creativity isn’t just about art or design. It’s about thinking outside the box, coming up with solutions when none seem obvious, and finding ways to make your work and life more engaging. Questify Life was born out of this kind of thinking—how could I turn personal development and community impact into something fun and engaging? For those just starting out, I’d suggest embracing curiosity and experimentation. Don’t be afraid to try unconventional approaches to problems. Creativity thrives when you’re willing to play, explore, and adapt.

3. Community-Building: One of the most important things I’ve learned is that no one can succeed alone. The ability to build strong relationships, collaborate, and bring people together has been critical. Through Questify Life, I’ve seen the power of collective effort—when people work together on a common goal, the impact is exponential. My advice for those early in their journey is to focus on building genuine connections. Surround yourself with people who share your values and vision, and always look for ways to give back to those relationships. It’s through collaboration and support that great things happen.

Advice for Developing These Skills

For resilience, the best way to develop it is by taking action even when things are tough. Keep moving forward, and make self-care a priority so you can recharge when needed. Celebrate small victories, and don’t dwell too long on setbacks.

To enhance creativity, keep an open mind. Explore new experiences, whether it’s through reading, travel, or conversations with people outside your usual circle. The more diverse your experiences, the more creative ideas will start flowing.

When it comes to community-building, start by showing up. Be present, listen, and contribute to the spaces you’re in. Look for opportunities to collaborate, and always be ready to help others reach their goals. In return, you’ll find the support and connections you need to succeed in your own journey.

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?

One of the most influential figures in my journey has been Philip Zave Wiseman aka Pézo the Poet. I connected with him while working on a project called World of Memory Makers. Philip made a bold declaration about selling a ten million dollar photograph, and I saw an opportunity to learn through our partnership. Together, we created a podcast called WOMMcast, where we interviewed artists and successful individuals. This experience not only helped me develop my skills but also allowed me to explore how to transition from being unknown to gaining visibility.

I spent a month in Canada with Philip, where we worked on a documentary about his ten million dollar photograph. This experience was profoundly impactful, especially the moment I got to hold that photograph myself. While in Canada, we also attended an event called Speaker Slam, where talented professionals competed to share their stories. Philip, being a photographer of that event, got called on stage by one of his mentors who had posed a thought-provoking question to the audience: if you could only keep a few photographs for the rest of your life, which ones would they be? Hearing Philip speak about the significance of his work was inspiring.

Additionally, we attended a two-day retreat focused on crafting TED Talks led by a nine-time TEDx speaker named Blake Fly. These experiences introduced me to a wealth of talented professionals and deepened my understanding of the power of artistry. I’ve carried those lessons with me as I continue my journey with Questify Life. Philip’s mentorship has provided me with invaluable tools and connections to grow personally and professionally.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @synthecopia
• Facebook: https://www.fb.com/QuestifyLife

Image Credits

1. Sarah Faye Doney
2. Sarah Faye Doney
3. Jeph Johnson
4. Jon LameBull
5. Ey-anna Shrishti
6. Benjamin Baker
7. Carla Broggi
8. Philip Zave Wiseman