We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kareem Manuel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kareem below.
Kareem, 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 find immense joy in pondering this question. Sadly, our society fails to prioritize mental, physical, and emotional well-being. While I have theories about who’s to blame, I’ve learned that taking ownership of my own health is crucial. Every day, I practice meditation, allowing my body to express what I feel inside. It reminds me that the voice in my head isn’t me and doesn’t have to control my emotions or reactions. I could talk about this for hours!
Being a CEO and a father, I have many responsibilities. But I always make time to tap into my inner self. Sometimes, life doesn’t go as planned for months on end. That’s when I sit down and acknowledge my thoughts, emotions, and desires, so I can decide how to move forward.
It feels good to feel good. Feel me?
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 the founder of We. Society. We. Are The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For. A lifestyle brand that seeks to inspire everyday people to impact their world every day. Long story short, I was stuck in my life. I was sick, overweight, underpaid, and seeking salvation. Then Donald Trump announced he was running for president, and all hell broke loose. I decided that I could not wait and didn’t need to. That I was here and perfectly capable of making an impact for myself, my family, and others. I also knew that others had gifts and the ability to heal their own lives. Thus We. was born and 7 years later we are still growing.
Our new capsule Bloom; Grow Where You Are Planted available in Ponce City Market is a focused message of growing and thriving no matter what or where. Tupac has a beautiful poem he wrote called the Rose that grew from concrete. This capsule is a release to inspire and you remind us the we can grow at any time and any place no matter where we are. Our age, location, past. The time to grow and thrive is now.
What I love about this work is being able to connect to so many people of all walks of life. A president of Synangogue in NY used our motto in her speech to bring in Rosh Shashana. Pastors have used it from the puplit. Its been shared at Pride parades. Straight, gay, old, young, this is a unified idea and voice and I love it. It takes longer this way to build, it even feels harder this way but it also feels more real to me.
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?
Reflecting on my journey, three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge had the most impact:
Fearlessness: Not giving a damn about other people’s opinions and expectations has been crucial. By asking myself how caring about what others think helps me? It does not. Asking whether I’m satisfied with my current circumstances or not. If the answer is no, why would I care what you think? Does it help me make money, eat, and care for my children? I’ve pushed myself to give my all without being hindered by unnecessary concerns. Get rid of the clutter.
Resilience: The amount of energy required to overcome obstacles is often staggering. It’s essential to keep pushing forward even when things are unplanned. Ultimately, the only thing that truly matters is the mission at hand, and in all honesty, it only really matters because you are investing in it. Take all the time to realize that this doesn’t even matter.
Self-Knowledge: Understanding oneself is invaluable when faced with a flood of others’ ideas, opinions, and advice. When that inner voice doubts or instills fear, self-awareness allows you to tap into your unique gifts and creative genius. Trusting your own capabilities and instincts brings a peace that transcends understanding.
Ye says “Believe in your flyness, conquer your shyness.” this is important. When the haters get loud AND the work is challenging, I think of Mooji Baba: “You must live life in its full palette of colors, for only then can you truly understand and appreciate the beauty it holds.” Meditate on this.
My advice for individuals at the beginning of their journey would be to embrace fearlessness, nurture resilience, and prioritize self-discovery. These qualities can be developed by challenging oneself to step outside one’s comfort zone, persisting through setbacks, and engaging in self-reflection and introspection. Remember, success often requires taking risks, returning from failures, and staying true to oneself.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Stop Fixing Yourself by Anthony De Mello. The book is full of simple and glorious wisdom but most of it is in the title. Stop Fixing Yourself, there is nothing wrong with you. You are perfect as you are. Stop fixing and start believing. Go and grow now. Anthony De Mello is one of my favorite thinkers and communicators and any of his books can help you but this one helped me so much this year.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wesociety.co
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/wesociety.co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareem-manuel-we/
- Twitter: @wesociety_co
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd_jv5rLMJxrfTurgT9uChw
