Grateful Living

Hey guys, hope all is well. In this vlog, I answer the following question: "I recently went through a breakup. I know that it’s going to take some time before things get better, I’m curious what do you think my mental approach should be for the next several months?”

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

Hey guys, hope all is well.

The other day, I received this message from someone: I have recently gotten into a relationship. As naturally happens, I’m hanging out with my partner’s friends on a weekly basis. One of my partner’s friends is not the happiest or most joyful of people to put it mildly. She tends to be on the more negative and pessimistic side. 

She obviously has happy and joking moments with her friends when making fun of things going on within the friend group or in the world, or when recounting fun memories from their past, but a lot of the time, she doesn’t really project a lot of happiness, smiling or love.   

I am someone that tries to enjoy life and be happy, you know, I think we shouldn’t take life for granted. I find when I’m hanging out with my partner’s friend, I’m very aware of her more stoic/less smiling presence and her negativity definitely has an effect on me. 

In interacting with her, I constantly feel I’m being judged and I find myself trying to make her more upbeat. 

Any pieces of advice in terms of interacting with my partner’s friend? This is someone, most months, I’ll be seeing 4 times a month.

In this vlog, I give my 4 pieces of advice for the individual in this situation which I think also generally apply to dealing with unhappy people.

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

As humans, one of the hardest things to do often do, is to truly be our authentic selves. 

We're often tested by advice from friends, family, social media, our environment, etc to make change the way we're living. 

In this vlog, I give 5 pieces of advice on being confident in yourself and your choices despite what others are doing/how they think you should be living your life. 

The specific question I answer is as follows: 

Hi Arnav, I am a college freshman. I am currently dating my high school sweetheart, but we’re long distance. I am struggling with whether the two of us should continue. I love her and we’re good. Obviously, long distance is tough and has its adversity, but I want to stay with her. 

All of friends here at school, want me to be single and experience that. They continue to bring up the idea that I’ll regret not experiencing being single if we ever do breakup and that these years of being in college never come back.  

I’m curious if you had any thoughts on approaching this situation and how to best navigate being confident in my decision making to stay with my girlfriend and not feel as self-conscious being in a college environment where most people are single?

If you have any comments or feedback, let me know! 

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

Hey guys, hope all has been well.

After a couple more months of reflection and feedback from all of you, I have decided I will continue the Grateful Living channel and podcast through vlogs on different life topics.

When I did my last video explaining the pause of the channel and the podcast, one of things that I said was, I am open to feedback and hearing anybody’s thoughts on the pause.

I appreciated all the support I received while I was content creating and I wanted to make sure I heard the people that supported me through the journey.

The #1 feedback I got was: We get reaching out to people to be a podcast guests, prepping for the guest interviews, posting the content from the interviews is a lot, but you should continue the life topic vlogs, as often as is healthy for you, even if it’s just once a month.

Thank you to all the people that encouraged me to do this. In my own reflections, I never thought of this as a possibility. When I posted my last video in January, I really thought, my content creation days were over.

When you’re used to doing something a certain level, like posting 7 days a week, going to a lesser schedule feels like you’re cheating and not giving 100%.

But as the months have gone by and I’ve reflected, I realized effort levels change - what giving 100% means can evolve and change as we progress through life. Previously, I could do 7 days a week, today, I can’t.

As it stands right, I hope to post at least once a month on a different life topic.

Today, I address, not letting imposter syndrome stop you from being your best self.

I think a lot of times people talk about the fear of failure, of making mistakes and losing it all.

But it’s interesting too, I think a lot of people suffer from fear of success, the fear of a greater positive image of themselves.

I think about some of my friends who have been through some traumas in their life and could be characterized, as say “crazy” or “a lot to handle”.

They’ll interact with me, and be like, “Oh, I’ll never be calm and happy, and put together, I’ll always be crazy and have an edge to me.”

And I’m like, “no actually you can become a calmer and happier version of yourself”. You’re self-doubt and the fear of success/imposter syndrome stop you from being that better version.

Make no mistake. Change doesn’t happen overnight.

It takes times, it takes work. For them, it might take therapy, it might take coaching. It might take reading an emotional intelligence book. It might take addressing things you haven’t wanted to from the past.

Whatever you’re trying to better in your life, you can do it.

Don’t doubt yourself. It may take time and work, but you can better yourself in that area.

Hope this is of value. Please feel free to provide any feedback or comments!

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

As many of you have probably noticed, I have stopped posting for a couple months now.

I’ve been in a time of reflection over the last several months and I made this video to explain what’s been going on in my life and why I haven’t been posting.

I don’t know what the future of Grateful Living channel holds, but I just want to thank everyone who has supported it.

Over 2.5+ years, the Grateful Living channels (YouTube, Spotify and Apple) have amassed over 70,000 plays.

Most importantly, beyond the numbers, the videos were made in honor of the 3 people I knew who died by suicide and to emphasize mental health as something we should all take care of.

Hopefully, some of the videos made a difference in some people’s lives and the way they look at wellness.

To anyone reading this, please make sure to always take care of yourself, be your biggest supporter, love yourself and understand they’re resources if you’re mental health gets bad.

You are meant to be here on this earth.

The beauty of life is we are all unique, no one of us is like anyone else, which means we all have our unique gift. Make sure to share that gift with the world.

Never ever let any circumstance, any voices or anything tell you otherwise.

There are ups and downs in everyone’s life.

I promise you, you will find a truly meaningful and purposeful life if you take measures to seek it.

Once again, thank you everyone for the support, hope everyone stays well ❤️🙏🏽

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

Rolland Berry is a contemporary artist residing in Los Angeles, California, whose work bridges the gap between fine art, pop art, and graffiti.

His works are included in the collections of Swizz Beats “The Dean Collection”, Urban Nation Museum Germany, and Xian Mueseum of Modern Art in China. Rolland’s celebrity clientele include Sofia Vergara, Joe Manganiello, Billy Idol and Juliette Lewis.

Rolland's Socials:

Website: rollandberry.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rollandberry/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rollandberryart/

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

Time Stamps:

0:00 Introduction

0:40 Rolland’s childhood

6:58 Where did you get the confidence to be yourself at a young age?

10:45 Where should kids like you be placed in schools?

13:21 How did you get into art?

17:45 Why did you move out from your parents house at 15?

22:42 Fred Segal’s

29:00 Starting a T-shirt company

34:46 Getting a 100,000 PO

37:01 Selling T-shirts at Ron Herman

39:37 Working with Barney’s

44:04 Working with Linking Park

45:45 Working with Reebok

55:45 How did you manage designing versus doing art?

1:02:05 How did 2008/2009 recession affect clothing business?

1:14:06 When do you know a piece is finished?

1:23:03 Is it hard to balance love vs. work?

1:25:10 How are you so creative?

1:30:15 When doing collabs with celebrity, how did you not get intimidated?

1:36:17 How do you think about your art style?

1:38:37 Any advice to an artist starting out?

Had the opportunity to speak with Ariana Alejandra Gibson!

Ariana is the founder and CEO of STIGMA, a mental health media company that uses video storytelling and a mobile app to normalize conversations about mental health.

In this interview, we talk about:

- Growing up with a dad with schizophrenia

- Her own mental health journey with panic attacks and living with generalized anxiety disorder

- What she’s hoping the STIGMA app can be for society

STIGMA App Socials:

Website: https://www.thestigma.app/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestigma.app/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestigma.app?lang=en

Ariana's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariana-gibson/

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

0:43 Ariana’s childhood

2:23 How did your dad being diagnosed with schizophrenia affect your early life?

7:01 Any advice to someone who has a parent living with schizophrenia?

9:46 How was navigating the divorce in terms of geographical difference of your dad being in Costa Rica and you living in Kansas?

12:01 How did you chose BC?

18:52 Was there culture shock coming from a lower socioeconomic background and going to BC?

24:15 How hard was it going from Pre-Med to Film and History major?

28:55 What did you do post BC?

35:00 You had your first panic attack at 25.

41:35 You and John got married in 2016. Did you speak about mental health?

45:45 You lost your friend Lauren in 2020 to cancer, anything you’ve learned from the grief journey?

51:30 You became a mother in 2018 and your son got diagnosed with autism in 2020, how has motherhood and raising a son with autism been?

1:02:23 What is the benefit of the Stigma app?

1:11:11 Was it difficult to publicly share you’ve struggled with mental health?

1:15:26 How was leaving corporate life and becoming an entrepreneur?

1:21:13 What’s the best way to support Stigma?

Rhiannon is a Trauma Specialist. She is an Outpatient therapist specializing in LGBTQ+ issues, PTSD/cPTSD, and cultural trauma and is currently under pre-licensed supervision (LMHC).

Today, Rhiannon will speak about her experience with being an adult of childhood divorce.

In this interview, we talk about:

- The lead up to Rhiannon's parents' divorce from her 8 year old perspective

- How the divorce affected her childhood - her emotional health and her view on love afterwards

- How her healing process was, whether she's forgiven her parents, and how the divorce affected her as a young adult and into adulthood

Rhiannon's email: [email protected]

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

0:54 Can you set the scene for your childhood?

10:11 How was the lead up to the divorce? Was there a lot of fighting in the months leading up to it?

14:23 How were you processing the physical altercations?

15:46 What advice would you give to someone in a similar situation today?

18:06 Did you tell friends or did you try to hide it?

24:43 Was making friends tough because it was hard to trust people?

26:26 How was your emotional health? Did you hide your emotions?

30:23 How was your relationship with love after seeing your parents divorce?

40:40 Did you have conversations with your partner about your triggers and past?

45:43 What has helped you the most in healing? Therapy, books?

49:45 Any recommendations you have to people who are friends with someone who has gone through a childhood divorce?

54:50 What do you think about the healing process?

1:00:02 Have you recognized your strength as a child?

1:03:33 Have you had any conversations with your parents in adulthood about your childhood?

1:06:51 Have you forgiven your parents?

1:12:40 How is your relationship with that time period in your life today?

1:15:17 Is there anything we didn’t cover that you think might be of value?

1:18:48 What’s the best way to support you?

Jaime is the CEO and Co-Founder at The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center, a world-class behavioral health treatment center located in South Florida focused on helping individuals and families thrive. Prior to this role, he was an investment banker at Credit Suisse in its Global Industrials coverage group in New York City.

Prior to these professional positions, Jaime lived with a substance use addiction and speaks about his story becoming sober and turning his life around.

In this interview, Jaime talks about:

- His addiction journey with drugs starting with alcohol and eventually leading to others

- His journey with going to 7 rehabs and becoming sober

- His life now 8+ years sober and his advice for others living with addiction

Sylvia Brafman's Website: https://sylviabrafman.com/about-us/meet-the-team/

Jamie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jblauu/

Sylvia Brafman's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sylviabrafmancenter/

Grateful Living Info:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Bo0LHtRJJNJBUYIceg27w

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Hn4ttttmbWfVqAhWh4Jhi

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503185956

My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroy81547/?hl=en

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/gratefulliving4

Medium: https://gratefulliving4.medium.com/

Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

0:51 Can you give us a little background on your childhood?

2:38 Any advice growing up in a divorced household?

4:50 Did growing up in a divorced household affect your intimate relationships?

7:15 How do you look at your early relationship with alcohol?

9:20 What was the progression to becoming addicted alcohol from 14 to 17?

13:42 Is there something a friend or family member can do if they’re concerned?

18:05 Did you think it was a problem for you?

21:25 Do you think alcohol is a gateway drug?

25:13 Why was your last rehab your last rehab?

28:22 Did you ever lose hope?

30:28 How was the first year of trying to become sober?

36:50 Did you feel guilty about people you may have hurt while addicted?

39:15 How you balance the two identities of your life as an addict and your life today?

41:46 How has Year 1-8 of being sober been?

46:50 How do you approach party situations where drinking is around?

51:15 Is there a way you would create more empathy for people who lack empathy for addicts?

54:35 Can you talk about The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center?

58:42 Any parting words?

1:00:18 Best way to support The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center or you?