We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xtr Moody a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Xtr, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Im resilient due to the fact of all the hardships I’ve been through. I don’t open up very easily so I won’t go in details.. but trauma and life experiences help me maneuver through being adaptable and resilient. It’s not something I’m proud of but it’s something bad that happened and I turn it into a lesson. Everything has a lesson depending on your view point.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an official non-profit that focuses on art and mental health of everyone around. MOODY is an inspirational abstract artist known for pushing the boundaries of conventional art. Their work resonates with individuals who embrace their uniqueness and dare to think outside the box. MOODY’s focus on mental health, particularly for high-risk kids and adults, stems from a deep understanding of the challenges these individuals face in finding safe outlets for their emotions. Recognizing the stigma surrounding mental health, especially among men, MOODY aims to provide a platform through art where individuals can express themselves freely without judgment. By addressing mental health issues through their art, MOODY seeks to create a safe and inclusive space.
MOODY strives to break down barriers and encourage open conversations about mental well-being, offering hope and support to those who may feel isolated or misunderstood.
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?
I think just being yourself is the way you need to move. Authentically yourself. You need to show people you are relatable and how your over came your trials and tribulations. I’m STILL working on being my true self.. I’m diagnosed bipolar 2 and chronic epilepsy. I deal with imposter syndrome and OCD, where sometimes I am my own enemy.
You can’t fall into the trap of the “maze” where you let your subconscious take over your passion and that’s where a lot of us fail at, especially me. I think my value of my art is measured on the reactions of strangers that wouldn’t take to time to even acknowledge my mission, NO MATTER how many accomplishments I have under my belt. Which is a lot of them. And that’s not fair to my craft or myself. So working on being nice to yourself daily is the best advice I can give you. Life beats us up enough, we don’t have to do it to ourselves. Focus on the pros more than the cons.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Teaching me that just because you physically gave birth to me does not mean you’re a parent. They taught me that strangers and friends can become the family you never knew you needed or even wanted. And I’m forever grateful for everyone around me that enjoys me, I’m learning to accept love in all forms and that I am deserving of receiving it. So I’m glad they taught me that just because you’re not loved somewhere… you can create a community based solely on love & authenticity.
Contact Info:
- Website: Xtrmoody.com
- Instagram: Xtrmoody
- Twitter: Xtrmoody
- Youtube: Definitionofmoody
Image Credits
@shotbycerv
