Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jazzy Del. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jazzy, 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.
Mental health is a tricky thing for me. As someone who is diagnosed bipolar, some days I feel I’m on top of it and handling the curveballs, other times I feel like I’m drowning. I think the hardest part was simply accepting that this is something I will be dealing with for the foreseeable future. Learning to give myself grace on my bad days, but also celebrating my progress no matter how small has been crucial in making it through. Im also a big advocate for therapy. Just having someone to talk things out with and process my feelings is super helpful.
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?
I am an artist. I primarily paint but I also dabble in sculpting, wire jewelry making and crocheting. I strive for my paintings to show the beauty and inner strength of black women and black people in general. This subject is special to me because growing up I didn’t see much representation of people who look like me. I hope that my art can reach those who need it and that they’ll see the beauty within themselves as well. As for future projects, a coloring book is still in the works along with some new paintings and maybe even a set of affirmation cards.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
With both art and working through mental illness, patience is the most important thing. Along with persistence and consistency. Those three things have paved a way for me to not only feel successful but also proud of myself. Figuring my self out and deciding the direction I want a painting to go takes time. Both are a process that can’t be rushed. It’s just small steps every day that eventually lead to a great outcome. My advice is to not give up. It’s a little cliche but true. The time it takes to accomplish something is irrelevant because the time will pass regardless. The important thing is to keep going, keep learning and keep making progress toward whatever your goal is.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The best thing my mom could have done for me was to let me make and learn from my mistakes. She always allowed me to experience life while also providing a soft place to land if things didn’t pan out. In my younger years I’d think, where is the advice or the “caution tape” against making certain decisions in my life. Now I realize without those experiences and the space to go through them I wouldn’t be the woman I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://society6.com/jazminedelart
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jazzy_del?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Image Credits
Jazzydel
