We recently connected with Morgayne Summer and have shared our conversation below.
: Hi Morgayne , so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?
Empathy; it sounds a lot like empty. That’s exactly where I was before I truly knew the conditions to grow an empathetic nature.
As children, we are pretty unaware of the threads that connect all of us in this societal web we later become a part of in order to serve an endless cycle of eat, work, sleep.
However, at a certain point in life we are given an opportunity. One that drastically changes the course of our lives. The type of awakening that gives us a new found sight; Or a deepened insight.
For a long time I searched for answers to things I felt, usually knowing it was feeling without cause~
Overwhelming waves of sadness, grief, and anxiety, would constantly leave me in bleak states of being. To an all consuming point of compete and utter numbness.
And I lived in that hum for a longtime before I would realize that there is a love, a grace so unconditional, that it would heal.
There is a poem I find so comparable to this feeling that relates to my discovery of unearthing such a kindness. It’s a poem written by George Gordon Byron, and a segment of it goes, “ From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
What I can ne’er express, yet cannot all conceal.” The phrase from his poem could bring me to tears with the amount of presence it was written with in the 1700s.
To know, we are all connected and have experienced emotional waves that bind us as a creation of the earth. Beautiful and timeless~
Life is full of interactions with various types of people, creatures, places, and objects, that all reflect back to us, some sort of feeling we’ve lived with. Once you learn how to recognize those reflections and allow emotions to flow through, that is where your empathy is born.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My artistic career has changed dramatically in just a short amount of time.
I’ve always been a creative young lady, and don’t see my life going in any other direction. But I can say my official tattoo journey starting in 2018.
Where I was thrown to the wolves in a self taught tattoo environment that left me in a state of confusion and guilt for what I didn’t know. As a 19-20 year old, I did my best to keep it together.
Shortly after starting my tattooing journey, I lost my dear boy, Ahgo. The pup that went wherever I go~ During that time in my life (and more now than ever) my dog was my best friend. I took him everywhere and he was my uncertified emotional support animal.
The loss of my dear boy was so painful for me I had to take a break from pursuing my dreams of being a tattoo artist. (Which quite frankly, weren’t going the greatest in general.)
So much time would go by before I would recommit to the idea of tattooing. Alas, again I was back on track. But as confidence grew, chaos unraveled.
I was met head on with the Covid-19 pandemic. Which harassed, threatened, and took many lives. Including my grandfather. But this time, knowing the person he was he wouldn’t want to see me give up for a second time. So I pushed on. I took on my apprenticeship through the pandemic. Which at times would scare the daylight from me. Thinking I was an anomaly for not having sub-come to the virus, covid put me down for three weeks. I lost out on time, resources, and an amazing opportunity to do a traveling tattoo guest spot.
From Covid I would move on, continuing to discipline myself in the arts of tattooing.
At this time, I can say with certainty I put my focus on taking my career with a level of seriousness that can often get lost.
Tattoos can be anything you want them to be and I respect all creative ideas, will I personally tattoo all of them, no. However the bulk of the ideas that find there way to me, I uphold the dedication anyone would want to see from someone permanently altering their body.
Bringing me to an exciting breakthrough for myself as a new tattoo artist, I will be attending the first ever tattoo festival held in Grand Rapids, MI. In the October the fall of ‘23.
So readers whom may not be to aware of the accomplishment this is, I would say not many 3 year tattoo artists have had the confidence to attend such a public event for their careers.
To that, I am incredible grateful to the supporters I have and of course all of my friends and family members.
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?
Three important things that I can share with readers, woah. Okay…
One: Learn your priorities.
As a young adult who has herself, dog, and house to worry about, I have payed attention to the patterns I am most prone to sub-coming to. Patterns can be destructive but managed correctly they can become constructive habits.
By prioritizing the pressing responsibilities life gives us we can create and obtain our goals step by step. This leads to a routine that allows for success to grow.
Two: Don’t ever be to hard on yourself.
I could talk on this topic until I am blue in the face.
If we can learn to allow grace for ourselves we can thrive that much more. The moment we learn to forgive the mistakes, errors, and setbacks we go through, we can start really growing through them.
I could fill this page with endless cliches on the subject. I will forever vouch for the truth behind the brilliance of treating yourself kindly.
Three: Ask for help
This right here has been a struggle for me to learn. Most of the time, I’m still learning how to ask for help!
There is no standard in the world that restricts an individual from the need for an extra hand. Help is always available if we are willing to ask for it. Regardless of the circumstances this need does more for the human experience than anything. There becomes connections formed, knowledge passed on, and the emotions shared. It’s unbeatable.
However it can be intimidated, self deprecating, and down right embarrassing to admit you need help from someone. But you’ll always be thankful after you’ve asked.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
It’s human nature to experience the nagging sensations that come with being overwhelmed.
Being overwhelmed looks different in everyone’s evolutionary journey. We all have our tricks and tips for releasing ourselves of such angst. For me, I tie this back to the advice of priorities.
Creating mental notes of how things affect your daily life can help you out tremendously. Also allowing yourself to learn how to become unbothered by such things can reduce the amount of stress you experience.
I have spent much time with myself and meditating on the things that really grind my gears. Meditated to a point where I have become aware to the things that are in my immediate control and how I have given myself permission to let things outside of my control go.
This practice can solve many problems, relieve anxiety, and improve overall focus.
Now I’m not telling y’all to go out, start dropping Fbombs saying things are outside of your control and you don’t have to deal with it because it causes you stress.
What I’m saying is: there is an advantage to awareness. In tern it will create constructive options, communication, and outcomes.
Take the time to sit with yourself, or even pause in moments where you are feeling overwhelmed, and ask yourself, “how is this situation affecting me, what can I do for myself right now that will create space for positive reassurance, what do I know that is true about this situation.” Three simple questions that will redirect your focus from the overwhelming experience to better animate a health response.
It takes time, alas that is all we can ask for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sirensrose.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summer.inked/?hl=en
- Other: https://voyagemichigan.com/interview/meet-summer-wilson-of-south-haven-mi/ https://canvasrebel.com/meet-summer-wilson/
