Meet Shireen Crutchfield

We were lucky to catch up with Shireen Crutchfield recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shireen, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re very focused on here – improving our ability to make decisions. Everyday, we’re faced with decisions that can impact the future of our careers, businesses, relationships and more and so one of the most impactful areas for personal development, in our view, is decision-making. Can you talk to us about how you developed or improved your decision-making skills?

I developed my decision making skills through a lot of bumps and bruises, I’ll tell you that! Although we are besties now, growing up, my big sister hated me, and she let it be known. I was the “pest,” the “brat,” “stupid…a slob…” and many other painful things.
For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. I couldn’t get it right. I would shrink. I would be quiet. I would contort myself into anything and everything hoping it would get her to like me. It didn’t work. What I was doing wrong?
I surmised in my early childhood brain that I was “WRONG.” It wasn’t something I was doing. It was something I was – wrong. This false image shaped my life, my decisions. In order to survive, I wore a mask, many masks that helped me get by. I didn’t want anyone to know what my sister knew. I didn’t trust myself. How could I? I was wrong. I followed other people, trusting their opinion over my own. I lost everything, literally – job, home, children.
What I didn’t lose is my desire to be the best I can for my children. Through therapy and a lot of tough questions, I learned that I was fine all along! There wasn’t anything wrong with me then or now.
My sister apologized for her mistreatment, and I forgave her. We were kids. She had her own identity to figure out. And I learned to follow God’s voice inside of me. I can trust me. He gave me a pretty good brain, if I do say so myself! I make decisions that align with my Spirit, and I’m grateful for it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I wear many, MANY hats! Professionally, I am a model, actress, singer, songwriter, producer, author, director, life coach and blessed mother of three. The “hats” come off and on depending on the week. Perhaps I’ll fly to the East Coast to model one week, then onto a movie set the next. It keeps things exciting for me. I enjoy being creative and expressing those things through the many media outlets. I’m truly grateful to be able to traverse the media landscape as I have.
At the present, I am in two new films on Tubi. The first being “Love and Coffee” – Ethan and Mira face love, betrayal, and tough choices as they reunite at the café where it all began in this drama about marriage and self-discovery. The second new film on Tubi is “Lost Tape” – A techie discovers a sex tape tied to a rising politician, igniting a deadly game of blackmail, ambition, and betrayal as secrets unravel. Two thrillers, “Strangers” and “RUSH” are also coming soon. Lots of drama! It’s fun to jump into different roles and play.
I am also in preproduction on a few projects that I’ve written for the new year.

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?

Along with determination and patience, I believe my most impactful quality is resilience. The entertainment industry is no joke! People are fickle. Their taste can change from one day to the next. Criticism and praise can come from the same mouth in the same sentence. One minute you’re on a roll, the next minute, silence. Hot one minute and cold the next. Some call it having a “thick skin.” I think it’s okay to both be liked and disliked. It doesn’t change my mind about me or the direction of my dreams. Sometimes the biggest hater can be the biggest supporter and vice versa. Roll with the waves of the ocean. Oftentimes, it’s the adversity that pushes me forward.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The book that has played an important role in my development is the Bible. I didn’t grow up in church. Wasn’t part of a “religious” family. But as I grew, in my “search for self,” I found it. I believe any self help book worth its salt uses Biblical principles as their foundation. At least the ones I’ve read do!
I find it to be filled with every facet of the human experience. When I’m scared, anxious, insecure, sad, it speaks to me where I am. One of the most valuable nuggets for me is the scripture that says, “…all thing work together for your good.” So in times of anger, or sorrow, or fear, it helps me to reframe the situation, which brings me the peace and joy I need to make it through.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @ShireenCrutch
• Youtube: @shireencrutchfield3507

Image Credits

Peter Augustin
Ignacio Zavala