We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Toccara Samuel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Toccara, 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.
I was formally diagnosed with my battle with mental health just after high school. I lost my biological mother to postpartum depression/ Suicide at the age of 6. Over the years I battled with PTSD, Depression, Anxiety and OCD. Watching my biological mother battle made me want to be better so I asked for help from my second mom, my sister and other family members. After speaking with my late grandfather I understood that I wasn’t alone in my battle. I began a healing journey by going to therapy and learning coping mechanisms so that I could heal naturally. I also rely a lot on my faith as well. Some ways that I continue to overcome it all is by Journaling, staying connected with my family/friends, reading, staying on top of self care, focusing on my goals, reading positive affirmations daily, continued therapy, keeping track of my vision board for this year and by taking all natural supplements.
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 am Toccara Samuel, Licensed Esthetician, CEO and Creator of Exceptional Creations with Toccara and the Exceptional Private Label Company. I specialize in Hair growth, skincare, beard care, coaching, product education and product creation. In addition to being an Esthetician I work as a Beauty Specialist, I’m an author and I assist others on their journey towards wellness and beauty. My journey began while in school to become an esthetician. I lost my hair due to health issues and started experiencing issues with my skin. I started developing all natural products to assist with hair growth, eczema, acne, pain and more.To go from having no hair to fully growing my hair back myself was a journey that led to me assisting others while tracking my growth via social media. I proved my products work by being my own walking billboard while assisting others. After obtaining all that was needed to launch my business I began networking with barbers, stylists, beauty supply stores and other estheticians to expand my brand. My products are now available on my website and have shipped throughout the United States.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities that were impactful in my journey would be patience, faith and diligence. The best way to develop and improve is to always strive to be your best self daily. Never compare yourselves to others because your journey was wonderfully crafted just for you. Give yourself time, have faith in yourself and stay diligent.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am definitely looking to collaborate with others. I’m interested in collaborating with Podcasts, influencers, beauty professionals, tattoo artists/enthusiasts, barbers, beard enthusiasts,mental health organizations, body positive influencers, and I am also looking for brand ambassadors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.creationswithtoccara.com
- Instagram: @creationswithcara
