We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aris Miller. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aris below.

Aris, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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, I am happier as a creative—but it’s not always the easiest path. While there’s so much freedom in building something of your own, there’s also safety in having a regular job. That balance is a thin line for me—and up until recently I’ve struggled to find it. On one hand, I want to feel the security of having a paycheck, but it’s hard to thrive as a creative when you’re spending your energy chasing someone else’s dream.

Thankfully, I’ve found a sweet spot in my current role in Edtech. I’ve always imagined a dream job where I could use my creativity to inspire people, impact my community, and still earn a good living–and I thank God everyday I get the opportunity to do that now. The money is a bonus, but the real gift is being able to create from a place that feels aligned and intentional. When I’m in my creative flow, I’m operating at my highest vibration. So yes—I’m absolutely happier as a creative, because it’s who I am. I bring that energy into every space I’m in—at my 9-5, in my work with ArtBeat Wellness, and just in the way I live.

As for how I think through the emotions that come with this lifestyle—it really all started with learning how to feel them. That’s what ArtBeat Wellness is rooted in. My personal story is the case study: I had to find new ways to regulate my emotions, process grief, and stay grounded through uncertainty. That led me to explore holistic approaches to mental health—specifically creative wellness and intuitive music healing.

Learning the science behind how the brain and emotions work, and pairing that with practices like playlist-making, coloring, movement, and ancestral reflection—it changed my whole life. It gave me tools to get out of survival mode and into creative flow. Now, I don’t just create—I understand myself through my creativity. That emotional awareness has made me a better designer, thinker, facilitator, and human overall.

So yeah… I’ve learned that I’m absolutely happier and most importantly, more purposeful with my life as a creative. Creativity isn’t just about what you make. It’s about how well you know yourself, and how brave you’re willing to be in using your art to heal—yourself first, then others.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Aris—like Paris—which I always jokingly say whenever I introduce myself to people, just to make sure they pronounce it right lol.

I’m a graphic designer, healing-centered education facilitator, and the creative mind behind ArtBeat Wellness, a community-centered initiative that blends creative wellness, intuitive music healing, and ancestral wisdom as tools for self-discovery and emotional healing. I use my background in design, psychology, education, and lived experience to help people—especially Black and Brown folks—(re)connect with their inner rhythm and creative flow. A lot of us were taught how to survive, but never taught how to be whole. That’s why I ground this work in the understanding that true education isn’t just about information—it’s about transformation.

During my own period of self-discovery—before I even had the full vision for ArtBeat Wellness—I read Know Thyself by Dr. Na’im Akbar. That book changed everything. It completely reshaped how I viewed education, and helped me realize just how much traditional systems were failing to nurture the self. I was teaching graphic design at a high school in Camden, NJ at the time, and while I loved my students, I couldn’t ignore how that system wasn’t designed for their full flourishing—or mine. That realization pushed me to walk away and step into something more aligned.

Dr. Akbar broke down the word “educate” in a way I had never heard before. He explained that its root—“educe”—means to bring forth what already exists within. That shifted something in me. It made me realize: I don’t want to be seen as a teacher. I’m not here to fix, to heal, or to fill anyone up with information. I’m here to help draw out what’s already there. That’s what ArtBeat Wellness is really about.

So now, I don’t even call myself a healer or a teacher—I see myself as an educer. Someone who creates space for people to remember who they are, to hear their own rhythm again, and to realize that everything they need is already within them. I just provide the tools, the rhythm, and the vibe to help them access it.

When I left the classroom, I became my first case study. I spent two months on FMLA reconnecting with my inner-child, grieving the losses I once pushed down, and innerstanding myself. During this time of stillness, I found my creative rhythm & flow–my ArtBeat. I’ve learned that being a creative is about learning how to feel—fully, honestly, and without shame. 

Who I’m becoming is someone who doesn’t just create beautiful things—but someone who creates spaces where other people can remember that they are beautiful, too. I want to keep building this world I see in my head, where healing feels like play, and creativity feels like coming home.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. The mission behind my creative journey—and everything I’m building with ArtBeat Wellness—is rooted in healing, not ego. I’m not in this for money, fame, or recognition. I truly believe I’ve been called to help my community heal, and to create spaces where we can feel safe enough to feel, express, and be.

The driving principle for me personally is Kujichagulia—self-determination. It’s what keeps me grounded and committed to this God-given journey, even when the path feels uncertain. I know I was put here to lead with intention, to create with purpose, and to stay aligned with what I believe in—even when no one’s clapping.

And while Kujichagulia fuels my personal mission, I also hold close the values of Ujima (collective work and responsibility) and Umoja (unity). This work can’t be done alone. The vision for ArtBeat Wellness is about us, not me. It’s about reclaiming our stories, reconnecting to our creativity, and healing in community so that we can shift the emotional inheritance we pass down to the next generation.

ArtBeat Wellness is my love letter to that healing. Through it, I want to make wellness feel culturally-rooted, intuitive, and joyful—not clinical, not rigid, but soul-led. Whether I’m designing a workshop, spinning a playlist, or guiding people through meditations, I want every space I touch to feel like a creative exhale, and a reminder that we don’t have to do it all by ourselves. When we heal together, we build something lasting.

So yes, the mission is bigger than me. I’m just a vessel. And my only goal is to stay obedient to the calling.

This isn’t just about wellness—it’s about returning to wholeness, together.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

ArtBeat Wellness is currently funded through the design work I do—logos, websites, merch, branding, you name it. I didn’t have a big investor, a business loan, or even a huge savings account when I decided to start this. What I did have was vision, intention, and a creative skill set I knew could help fund the dream. So that’s what I’ve been doing—pouring the money I earn from design commissions directly into building out ArtBeat Wellness, piece by piece.

While I’d love to tap into grants or funding that supports work like this, that’s not something that’s really in my wheelhouse just yet. But I’m open—and I humbly welcome support from anyone who feels called to this mission the way I do. Whether that’s through collaboration, financial support, or just helping spread the word, I know I can’t do this alone. After all, this work is rooted in Ujima and Umoja—collective work and unity. I’m just doing my part.

Right now, I’m focused on creating healing-centered events with purpose—experiences that are powerful in spirit but also intentionally designed to generate income to pour directly back into ArtBeat Wellness. Every ticket sale, every merch drop, every creative project I complete is part of a bigger plan. I’m building a self-sustaining model that allows me to offer free or low-cost workshops in schools and community spaces—especially in Black and Brown neighborhoods where access to wellness isn’t always a given.

That’s the heart of all of this: I want wellness to be accessible. I want people to heal without having to ask themselves, “Can I even afford this?” But I also know it takes real money to make that happen—space rentals, supplies, collaborators, marketing—it all adds up.

I’m not quite there yet, but I’m getting close. And every single creative offering I put out into the world is another step toward making this vision real. This is about healing the community, yes… but let’s be real—it doesn’t hurt to make a little money to fund these dreams of mine, too.

If anyone feels called to collaborate or contribute—whether financially or by volunteering—you can visit my website arismiller.com to book a design commission, or purchase from my online store when it launches later this Spring. Every bit helps, and I’m deeply grateful for the support.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arismiller.com
• Instagram: arislikeparis.png
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/aris-miller-877351084?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1&si=8B7915AA06014D33B40C66BFA175B600&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing