Empathy for Starving Artists. Superpower for Me and You
Abundance Mindset and Empathy as Tools of Resilience for the Creative and Purpose-driven
Back in 2020 when I read Langston Hughes’s ‘I Wonder While I Wander’, I fixated on how this coming-of-age writer-on-the-road story skipped me in my youth while similar works by white authors Kerouac and Salinger didn’t. I somehow knew my trip down the Black author’s road might draw some similarities to Langston’s. As my journey brings me to SXSW for my first ever official book reading, I’m realizing common struggle might be the similarity.
Today, I’m curious about how I overlooked the feeling of sadness I faintly noticed realizing one of my literary heroes was forced to pass the cup to white benefactors (who eventually turned their backs on him) until he found the courage, and grassroots strategy, to take his work to his people at HBCUs across the south.
Empathy Practice Trains for Abundance Reflection
My empathy practice equips me to reflect on my abundance. As I do, I feel mixed emotions sharing that the material aspect of my life has not been the strongest the last 12 months. I never thought I’d walk in Langston’s and so many other authors’ shoes, experiencing the immense uncertainty of being a struggling author. I have empathy for myself and them. I also have strengthened the muscles needed to turn towards what’s going well for me. From that place, I hold immense joy and pride in the ways that I’ve been supported by my community to bring my work to my values-aligned people across the country.
Throughout life, we’re told that “money can’t buy you happiness”. If we’re honest with ourselves, few of us actually believe that. Perhaps that’s because the opposite is often true. Lack of money will likely bring you sadness. As with most things, there is rich territory in the middle ground.
Richness Springs from Community and Purpose
The path to richness of life is understanding that happiness springs from investing in community and purpose, not from the blind and unfettered pursuit of material wealth.
Too often the pursuit of material wealth in the absence of healthy investment in community and purpose leaves us over-invested in work. We can become isolated and dependent on even more wealth to maintain our lifestyles and sense of safety.
We have to find a healthy relationship between our material desires, and the elements that make for long-term contentment, for our happiness to be lasting.
Blindsided By Black History Month
It’s Black History Month. A few years ago I was blindsided by how much work I was offered that I had to turn some down. This year I’m stupefied by how little I’ve been offered. I’ve passed the cup to corporate benefactors to no avail. Now I get to take my message to values-aligned people alongside some phenomenal empathetic leaders that I want to shout out.
A few weeks ago, I was able to gather over 100 Black and Brown faces at NeueHouse in NYC, alongside Yasmine Jameelah of Transparent Black Girl to celebrate Black creativity and resilience in Black History Month.
On February 29th in LA, the last day of Black History Month, I am collaborating with The Steve Fund (non-profit) to curate a Men of Color Mental Health in Black History Month event at Black-owned Sip+Sonder. The event will feature me as host and panel moderator and Dr. Byron Young of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Mannie Thomas III Senior Educator for BEAM movement, Brandon Holman VP of Marketing + Wellness for Guin. The event centers Black Men and is open to all. Join for a panel, wellness circles, and connecting.
Also in LA on the first Day of March at North Figueroa Books, I host a The Power of Empathy book signing where guests will get a personalized Haiku with each signed book. I’m joined by my Men’s Group brother Daniel Zaltzman, founder of the experience company Haikuist. This is a part of my continued efforts to make empathy and healing mainstream through fun and unexpected experiences.
On March 5th, in Los Angeles, we are partnering with Reparations Club and DJ Oliver Lastname on Actually Curious Happy Hour at Reparations Club for a moderated conversation with Reparation Club founder Jazzi McGilbert and a facilitated community Happy Hour game, with DJ and intentional mingling.
From there, I head to Austin for the weekend!
Choosing Love Over Ego
On March 8th I collaborate with Open Form Yoga on a grounding and connecting experience led by founder Jasmin M and myself. Join us for a conversation and book signing for The Power of Empathy and an intentional connection experience with Actually Curious.
And to close out this community-building mission, on March 11th, I get to grace the agenda of SXSW for an official reading and signing of The Power of Empathy. This is my first time being invited by the SXSW planning committee. My wonderful partner and creative director Caroline Bel-Kher had the foresight to submit for this on my behalf, and it worked.
The point of you reading this article, isn’t for you to marvel at my grassroots efforts or to feel sorry for my struggles. It is to witness a proud example of a reframe. I could choose to hide from and dwell on my struggles, or I could choose to shift my focus and to own my challenges with vulnerability and deep curiosity. The former wraps me in emotional turmoil, the latter opens me up to my community for love and support. I choose love over ego, and that’s The Power of Empathy.
About Michael Tennant
Michael Tennant, CEO of Curiosity Lab is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, brand strategist, and author of The Power of Empathy available now at Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and book and audio book sellers everywhere. He’s also the creator of Actually Curious™ the empathy conversation game, Values Exercise™, and the Five Phases of Empathy™.
Connect with me on LinkedIn / Instagram / TikTok, Thank you.
