We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Farah Mitha. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Farah below.
Alright, Farah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
When I was young, I was an exceptionally sensitive and emotional child. The world seemed to impact me on a deeper level than it did most others. At the time, I wasn’t aware that, in addition to my own teenage challenges, I was absorbing the struggles of others, including the pressing issues of the world. Among these, racism, inequality, and the tragedy of people taking their own lives deeply affected me. It was heartbreaking to think that someone could feel so hopeless and unloved that they’d choose to end their own life. On top of all this, I grappled with body confidence, self-worth, acceptance, bullying, and being misunderstood. I rarely discussed these feelings, preferring to keep my imperfections hidden while not fully comprehending them.
Fortunately, I had a passion for singing, writing, and sports. During my teenage years, singing, in particular, became an essential coping mechanism. Belting out lyrics at the top of my lungs and penning profound poetry provided solace. The artists I listened to felt like my closest friends in my lonely world. They were the only ones who seemed to understand me. Songs like “Hero” by Mariah Carey, “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera, “You Gotta Be” by Des’ree, and “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson resonated with me deeply. I realized that if these artists could use their immense followings and influence to convey powerful messages through song, I wanted to do the same. I wanted to feel special, loved, and worthy, and I wanted others to feel the same way.
As I navigated high school and contemplated a creative career, I faced discouragement from family and friends. They dismissed my aspirations with comments like “It’ll never work,” “It’s a one-in-a-million chance to succeed,” “You’re not black or white, the industry only promotes those artists,” and “Just be content with it as a hobby.” Lacking guidance elsewhere, I started on the path toward medical school, pursuing a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Physical Therapy in the meantime. However, one day, while sitting in a medical school interview that was going exceptionally well, a profound thought and emotion struck me: “This isn’t what I truly want.” I left the interview, striking a deal with the universe. If I got in, I would go, but if I didn’t, I would interpret it as a sign that I was meant to pursue my creative career. Guess which path chose me? ;)
Many years and numerous life lessons later, after enduring a rollercoaster ride filled with highs and lows, I find myself as the founder of Firefly World, a realization of my childhood dream. Through all I’ve experienced and learned, I needed to create a world where I could authentically express myself, embracing my insecurities, vulnerabilities, and aspirations to master my mind and overall well-being. I sought a place where I could feel secure while engaging in healthy emotional coping tools that were both fun and aligned with pop culture. I envisioned a space where positivity was celebrated, where music and art enriched our hearts, minds, and souls with messages that uplifted rather than hurt. My goal was to build a vibrant community of like-minded individuals eager to help others shine their brightest.
Firefly World primarily serves as a youth empowerment social enterprise, but its appeal extends to all age groups. Our current focus is on social media, positive pop and world pop music, inspirational concerts, and musical workshops featuring stories and lessons that can enhance our joy, confidence, and self-love while shifting our perspective on life. In the future, we plan to offer a cool app, journals, meditations, podcasts, and other creative avenues to share these empowering messages.
Farah, 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?
I’m Farah Mitha, a singer, songwriter, actor, speaker, and founder of Firefly World. I was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, attended Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, and then lived in Toronto, ON, for several years before relocating to Los Angeles about four years ago. Living in LA has fulfilled my lifelong dream of residing near a beach with fantastic weather! I’m captivated by the diverse communities, stunning natural landscapes, and the myriad of opportunities here.
My decision to move to LA was driven by my passion for music, creativity, and making a positive impact. In Canada, I worked as a physical therapist, but I felt the need to explore new horizons. I wanted to reinvent myself as an artist, unlock my potential, confront challenges head-on, and build meaningful connections. My musical journey has been incredibly rewarding, with experiences ranging from performing worldwide to opening for renowned artists like Sean Paul, Usher, and Chris Brown. I’ve collaborated with incredible talents like Salim Sulaiman and Gyptian, been featured on TV as an actor and singer, and even won awards. When I arrived in LA, I spent the first few years studying the abundant talent that exists in this city! I frequented open mics, live music venues, networking events, and writing sessions to gain valuable experience. I’ve also had the opportunity to host my own residencies at some iconic LA venues and private events. When I perform, I particularly enjoy crafting world pop-R&B fusion sets that incorporate multiple languages, styles, and genres, blending popular covers with my original compositions. You can explore my artistic journey further on my website: FarahMitha.com.
Alongside my music career, I’m profoundly grateful to pursue another passion: using music and creativity to empower young individuals and address the current youth mental health crisis. I distinctly remember my own struggles as a teenager—feeling isolated and overwhelmed by emotions. Music, along with the artists who created it, became my best friends. From that point on, I was determined to leverage the power of music, especially pop music, to heal not only myself but also others.
After opting not to pursue medical school, I relocated to Toronto in pursuit of a foothold in the music industry. In Canada, I worked closely with a manager and label for several years before embarking on a fresh start in the US. This journey has been a rollercoaster ride filled with numerous challenges and triumphs. During the toughest moments, I faced a pivotal choice: numb myself as others did or confront the challenges head-on. I’m delighted to have chosen this career path, as it has been incredibly demanding yet incredibly rewarding, leading me to a life rich in experiences and meaningful relationships.
I’m deeply grateful for the remarkable individuals who supported me, offered guidance, and taught me healthier ways to cope and recover, even when they didn’t fully endorse my path. Not everyone is fortunate to have such guidance, which is why, drawing from my own experiences, I have a wealth of knowledge I’m excited to share. My expertise lies in utilizing music, art, and creativity to foster self-love, inner confidence, mastery of the subconscious mind, holistic well-being, and self-connection. This is particularly vital for today’s teenagers and young adults who grapple with the toxic influence of social media and advertising, which can chronically undermine their self-worth. We all face these challenges—I still do—but I’ve discovered numerous tools to navigate them with grace and ease. It can be intimidating when you feel lost, unsure where to turn, and your own mind seems to work against you, but mastering this complexity is more attainable than we often believe.
So, what does this journey entail? I craft empowering concert experiences and inspirational musical workshops that are entirely positive, transformative, and educational. Participants leave with a renewed sense of self-love, a stronger connection to their purpose and life, enhanced confidence, and practical tools to create and experience the joy and fulfillment they rightfully deserve. Check us out at ThisIsFireflyWorld.com.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of my journey has also been the most challenging. In my prior profession of physical therapy/pursuing medicine, although it’s typically a challenging path, there was a clear formula to follow. Many had trodden this path before me, and there was ample family and societal support. However, when I made the bold decision to pivot into a creative career, I was stepping into the unknown. I had no idea where to start, what to expect, or whether it would lead anywhere. No one around me believed it should be more than a hobby, and I received no guidance or encouragement. Success, as it’s commonly defined, was far from guaranteed. So why did I do it? Why did I walk away from years of schooling, substantial investments, and rigorous studies to pursue something so elusive?
The answer is simple: I had to. As I sat in that medical school interview, my heart sank. Every day I spent away from my creative career, I was miserable. My spirit felt exhausted, like a part of my heart was wilting with each passing day. I couldn’t continue living like that. When I looked ahead, I couldn’t bear to live in a perpetual state of “what if.” Everything around me was cautioning against it, but something deep inside told me I had to follow this path. So, I did.
And I’ve discovered that, for me, this path has challenged me in ways no other career could have – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. These challenges led to complete breakdowns where getting out of bed was a struggle, where I felt utterly lost and hopeless. However, because I knew, deep down, that I was on the right path, a flame inside me stayed ignited and compelled me to keep moving forward. Time and time again, it pushed me to find my resilience and carry on. I learned that creativity is my spirituality and that through creative expression, I could find profound healing and strength.
Through all of these challenges, scars, and repeated failures, I’ve transformed into someone I could never have imagined. I’ve gained wisdom, strength, and a treasure trove of stories, songs, and lessons that I can share to help people far and wide. The most rewarding part has been living a very full life with no regrets, staying intimately connected with myself and my creator, offering impact and healing to others through my passions. And the most crucial lesson of all, which I’ve learned repeatedly, is that life is about the journey, not the destination. It’s about the “right now.” This is the true blessing of being alive.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
There are three fundamental lessons I’ve had to unlearn, and I’m still working on them. Some of this stems from my South Asian upbringing, steeped in high expectations and constant comparison that spans generations. But I’ve also come to realize that much of it was planted in my subconscious mind through media – magazines, TV, Hollywood/Bollywood, and later, social media. The first lesson I wish I’d embraced earlier is that it’s perfectly fine not to excel at everything right off the bat. It’s normal to grow, and even with practice, it’s okay not to be the best. I used to chase impossibly high standards in all aspects of life, leaving me in a constant state of feeling inadequate. Somehow, I believed I was only special if I was “naturally” the best.
This led to the second lesson – a fear of asking for help. If I was supposed to be the best, why would I need assistance? Consequently, I spent a lifetime being unnecessarily self-reliant and feeling ashamed if I couldn’t figure things out on my own.
All of this culminated in the overarching issue of perfectionism. If it couldn’t be perfect, if I couldn’t execute it flawlessly, then I believed it wasn’t worth attempting or sharing with anyone.
These three intertwined issues had consequences in both my personal and professional life. Overcoming them required significant effort because they had become deeply ingrained in my subconscious mind. This journey prompted me to delve into the study of neuroscience, brain behavior, and subconscious programming.
Many of us harbor these underlying beliefs, and they can be particularly limiting, especially for creatives and entrepreneurs. In creative pursuits, the journey becomes immensely more enjoyable, and skills develop more rapidly through collaboration and mentorship. In business, fearing failure can lead to paralysis, a never-ending quest for perfection, while others are out there iterating, growing, and learning.
These aren’t easy lessons to unlearn, but I discovered that it starts with genuinely falling in love with yourself as you are right now. That was the root cause of everything I needed to unlearn. Through various tools such as affirmations, journaling, meditations, writing, and courses, I learned to embrace self-love. I realized that if I truly loved myself at my core, everything else fell into place. My sense of self-worth was no longer tethered to outcomes or someone else’s opinion.
Contact Info:
- Website: FarahMitha.com and ThisIsFireflyWorld.com
- Instagram: @IamFarahMitha and @ThisisFirefly.World
- Facebook: @IamFarahMitha
- Linkedin: Farah Mitha
- Twitter: @IamFarahMitha
- Youtube: Youtube.com/@FarahMitha and Youtube.com/@FireflyWorld
- Other: Tikok.com/@iamfarahmitha and Tiktok.com/@thisisfireflyworld
Image Credits
Erik Griggs