We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Inês Merino a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Inês, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

The biggest risks you can take in your life and business are the ones where you choose to put yourself first, above anyone (or anything) else.

During my time as a freelance artist, I got an amazing 1-year contract – not too many hours per week, doing what I’m amazing at doing, contributing in a team setting and getting paid every month in a way that felt easy.

Except – my mental health was suffering.

It took me some time to understand that maybe, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. And that maybe, it wasn’t a “me” problem. When you’ve experienced depression and anxiety throughout your life, it’s easy to discount the problems you face and unconsciously absorb the narrative that you’re broken. Although I didn’t consciously believe that, it was showing up for me in that scenario. “If only I was a different person…”

Truth is, not all environments are a right fit for everyone and what might not be a problem for someone, might be damaging for someone else. We’re all different, and there are certain things that might be indeed harmful for the majority of people.

The risk? In my case, was to leave a stable contract for… well, nothing.
At least that’s how I felt. I had another contract lined up, but after that I didn’t really know what project could or would come. How money would support me in the following months.

But the moment I realized my health was on the line and I started noticing the signs of burnout steadfastly approaching, I knew. It was time for me to leave.

…even though that project supported me so much.
…even though I didn’t know what would happen next.
…even though I was letting go of stable income.
…even though I was contributing in a meaningful way.
…even though I was scared.

Because I had to put myself first. Because my health is my priority above money. Because saying no to other people’s expectations is saying yes to myself. Because nothing is worth sacrificing myself.

And so I did it.

I told my team, my client and everyone involved. I handed my notice, even though my heart was breaking. I said goodbye so that I could keep contributing to the world.

And then, I started recovering.

Although the recovery process took me much longer than I expected, I knew deep within that the artist always comes first before the art. And the human always comes first before the work. Sometimes we have to face difficult situations, but if our values are properly set, that will helps us to go through whatever happens and come out the other side with so many valuable lessons.

At the end I knew it wasn’t anyone’s fault necessarily – it wasn’t a right fit for me, and by releasing that contract they could then find someone who would. And, I am incredibly grateful for having been able to go through that experience, and be supported while contributing with my years of experience and knowledge.

So, taking a risk to put yourself first? I will always say yes to that.

Inês, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, my name is Inês Merino (she/her) and I’m an Artist, a Coach and a Quantum Healer.

All my life, I’ve been an artist. In a sense, I’ve been a coach too. My first memory ever was waking up from Pre-K during nap time feeling deceived in a crib when I actually fell asleep in a mattress on the ground. They tricked me! After crying for help and no one coming, I decided I would have to rescue myself. So as a 2-year old baby, I climbed out of the crib and found my teacher in the room next door doing paperwork. She let me be by her side doodling and drawing, while sunshine came in the window…

So I’ve been an artist since I remember. And I literally experienced making art as a refuge.

At some point I thought of becoming a psychologist, but didn’t feel I had the capacity to deal with people’s problems all day every day. I thought of becoming a veterinarian, but didn’t want to spend my days with animals who were mostly suffering. As an empath, that felt too heavy.

But art? That felt natural. My natural state. Could I become a successful artist? With my amazing grades, my extended family all wanted me to become a doctor like other family members did, but… I wanted art. Even though there was pressure for me to something else, I went for it.

I loved learning and was a high achiever. At the top of my class and without ever having learned how to say no, I pushed myself to meet the expectations of my most admired teacher in highschool. My drawing teacher. He saw potential in me, so naturally I wanted to fulfil that potential.

Until one week in my senior year, he pushed me so much, romanticising all-nighters, that I barely slept 4 hours to deliver an art assignment. After that, I lost my spark and fell into depression.

I was able to finish highschool and get into my top Fine Arts University by completing assignments at home. I thought uni would be better but it turned out to be even less supportive. Through up and downs and a lot of resiliency, I battled depression and did my best to finish my degree while recovering.

Long story short, I did it. After 7 years, I finished my degree, and then started my journey in finding work as an artist, becoming a freelance artist. And then again burnout and depression were present. Things only really started changing when in late 2019, I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder, found out I was having panic attacks for a year and had to pause client work for 3 months – doctors orders. That’s when I decided to throw everything at the wall – therapy, medication and… that’s when I found coaching.

By early 2020, I was learning about business, off meds, taking care of my mental health through journaling, meditation and hypnosis, raised my prices 4x and entered a whole world of personal and professional growth and development.

That’s when I learned that I wanted to become a coach, helping other artists like me, developed my spiritual side and integrated it in my business and art, learned about the subconscious mind, got trained in The Shift Method and certified in Quantum Healing through QHC.

Now, after 7 years working as a professional concept artist and illustrator for videogames, and so many more ventures with my art and coaching, I am expanding into the art that wants to come from my soul, in even more direct ways.

As an artist, I help creative visionaries bring their worlds and stories to life through stylized and magical artwork, in the realms of games, books and covers.

Independently, I also create my own work where I integrate spirituality, my quantum travels and art.

As a coach and quantum healer, I help soul-led ambitious artists find who they truly are so they can find the art they’re meant to create, their mission and share it with the world (ie. make money doing the art they love), without the burnout.

It all starts within. All the answers, wisdom and guidance is within reach for anyone who desires to access it, and my work is to help them access it and then implement it, one step at a time, integrating the pragmatic and emotional side of coaching, with the deep spiritual and healing work that unfolds in quantum hypnosis.

Because when you get in touch with those parts of you – you can’t unsee it.

And it is my mission to create a world with more magic – in art and in soul.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://inesmerino.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inimerino/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inesmerinoart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inesmerino/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@inimerino
• Other: https://inesmerino.bigcartel.com/

Image Credits

Inês Merino