We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zoe Felice Gavina a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zoe Felice, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Honestly yes, I’d say so. I’m at an interesting intersection of life where my practice of gratitude has me constantly weighing the pros and cons of what it means to be an artist. Without fail, I’m reminded how much fulfillment I have from pursuing the life of an artist.

Since my last check in with Voyage, I’ve evolved quite a bit in what my artistic lifestyle looked like. This time last year I was juggling a 9-5 with a company I once thought I was going to grow with longterm, while pursing my creative passions in my free time. I thought this was the “right” way but was quickly reminded how God (or Universe, whichever name you’d like) laughs in our face when we think we know what we’re supposed to do. I’m realizing that I’ve always craved to make something of myself for myself versus being a puppet in another person’s play and 2023 has given me the opportunity to figure that out. It’s a daily uphill battle, a constant war within myself on whether I’m doing the right thing but I’m learning the art of receiving. Sitting still and allowing flow to occur, learning how to honor my peace and let my intuition guide me rather than swimming against the current thinking I’ll get there faster. For the first time I’m letting myself pour fully into my cup so eventually I can share from my overflow.

Zoe Felice, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Legend has it I’ve been an artist my whole life and my rereads of The Artist’s Way affirms this must be so. I truly don’t remember a point in life where I did not identify as an artistic person. I’m grateful my parents integrated the arts into my life from a young age and that Filipino culture loves a good karaoke moment. From making little skits and singing songs with my sister and cousins at family functions to taking piano and dance classes, participating in different choirs and at one point being in a girl band, I have always been involved in something creative. I simply thought that was what life was, and I still do.

I’ve adopted the multi-hyphenate creative title because I want to do everything. I studied theatre and film in university and took on a minor in Asian American studies with the intention to integrate my heritage with my art and now I make music with my friends. I have always written songs on the side but didn’t know how to navigate as an independent artist and was plainly scared. But like I always say, life has a funny way of revealing ourselves to us. I’m constantly finding inspiration for some creative project, whether it’s through song, a poem, short film or music video, l witness new avenues to release creative energy every day. It is in those moments I feel the most fulfilled. How often can I create and hold my contribution to this world? I’d like to find out.

I’ve also opened myself to creative freelance and content creation, wanting to build more freedom and flexibility for myself as well as attracting new opportunities to experience and expand in this life. For a while I felt I was solely in a training mode. but am now transitioning into a place where I’m really putting what I’ve learned into action and it is quite exciting. A real test of patience and grit, but the more I set intentions for myself and allow the doors to open before me, somehow they always do. Seeing my progress from the music I’m writing, through the dance classes I take (especially those guided by Lynn Aiko of Alte Paradise), and all the other ventures I pursue, I know I am living in my highest timeline.

When you give it the chance, you’ll see how magical life can really be.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I mentioned I used to have a 9-5 briefly, but I used to work at Disneyland. For those of you who may not know, I have always loved Disney, the majority could agree. While I was pursuing theatre I had aspirations of performing for the company and after many failed attempts I began to question my talent when it was really a matter of the pathway not being aligned. I worked for the company pre and post pandemic having two truly different experiences. Purely, I had come to the end of my time there and was attempting to prolong my stay. Maybe it was an attachment to old habits and routines or that I was going to miss having access to the parks but my separation was for the best because I was finally able to spread my wings. No more excuses of my work schedule being all over the place and my commute & social battery knocking the wind out of me. I was forced to look at the life I was living and do something about it instead of sitting in the passenger seat. For the first time I had no school commitments and no job. Was I gonna sink or swim?

Somehow I’m still swimming and got toned in the process, both metaphorically and physically. I’m in the best space in my life thus far and I say that with my whole chest. Don’t get me wrong, the journey is never going to be linear. I still see my therapist and am constantly find something I want to work on, but isn’t that the joy of life? Change is the only sure thing we have, so why not learn how to ride the waves in the process ? If I had the chance to do anything different, I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey to this present moment. For some reason, everything has unfolded the way it was supposed to. I may not know why now, or ever for that matter, but I can trust that there is meaning for every experience I have ever had. Every day I step more into my power and confidence. I am constantly being met with the people, places and things that are aligned with my passions and purpose, genuinely inspiring me to keep growing. Without challenge, we can never be fully aware and grateful for our resilience.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Artist’s Way 1000%! I am on my second read of the year with my first (full) read taking place back in May-July. I was initially assigned this book at university in 2019 and, to be frank, I wasn’t in a space back then to really absorb and accept the lessons being handed to me. I was hiding from myself and couldn’t admit it. Now, Morning Pages have optimized my days so much (as well as the other activities she offers) and I am looking forward to what this round of the “course” has to reveal to me. The transformative journey that occurs when you pick up this book and apply the activities into your life will make you understand why I think life is so magical. I used to think being an artist and pursuing the venture of art was in a way pretentious, but this book made me realize that it is truly an act of honoring God and the gift of creativity I have been blessed with.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, Grit by Angela Duckworth and Atomic Habits by James Clear. I say these three at once because they touch on similar actions and intentions. Each encouraging to create the most effective and efficient way we can optimize our mental space to show up daily as our best selves. Growing up, especially in the LA/OC areas, there is a need I’ve recognized where hustle mentality can become quite toxic. At least in my journey, I was focusing so hard on replicating someone else’s success story and following what I thought was “the way” versus looking at how I personally function and learning how to utilize that natural flow within me. These three have greatly affected my daily routine and perspective and are some I look forward to picking up again and again or, at least, skimming through my notes and highlights when need be.

On Purpose, a podcast by Jay Shetty, is a resource I am so greatly appreciative of on my healing and life journey. It’s very name “On Purpose” says it all, guiding us in how we can find success and intention in our own lives regardless of monetary or popularity value. To be purposeful and intentional not only in the art I create but in the way I maneuver through life is so important to me. I love having the opportunity to listen in on the minds of other creatives and successful spirits that I already admire as well as some that I learn to admire while listening to their interviews. Whether I am sitting down with a pen and paper taking notes on an episode or letting it play in my headphones during a walk or in my car on a drive, I always leave each episode so inspired and motivated to apply what I heard into my life consciously and subconsciously.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lnk.bio/zoefelice_
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoefelice_/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/home
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/zoeefelice
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zoefelice_

Image Credits
Dance Footage credit to Alte Studios of Alte Paradise