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

Kashara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I’m happy as a creative, but it took me several years to reach a point where I could accept that my career path is not a ladder-like most of my other friends. The creative life is more like an unpaved trail; the only signals that tell you if you’re on the “right” path are those coming from your gut instinct. It’s human nature to always look for someone else who’s gone before you or is doing something similar as validation. Still, our best work comes from getting out of our heads and connecting to what resonates within us on a deep, inner level.

I used to wonder what pursuing a more traditional career with a straightforward path would be like. I even pursued it for a few years but eventually found myself feeling restless and yearning to do creative work that felt more meaningful. Looking back, there have always been signs that the work I’m passionate about and, more importantly, how I want to pursue it aligns differently than how corporate America operates.

My life as a creative became so much richer and joyful when I stopped second guessing myself, stopped looking for permission to pursue the projects that make me feel the most alive, and instead let myself be excited about having a front-row seat to the unfolding of my life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a storyteller and graphic designer based in Atlanta, Georgia. My career path has been exciting because I’ve always followed my curiosity and trust that it would lead me to where I need to be. The common theme of my work over the last almost ten years is social impact.

My storytelling work explores authentic wellness. From childhood through adulthood, we’re bombarded with messages that wellness and success are found only in what we can afford to buy, the accolades we receive, and the things we accumulate. This has resulted in a multi-generational crisis of widespread loneliness, burnout, and disconnection from self and our communities, among many other challenges. Authentic wellness is a human right that each of us is entitled to define for ourselves regardless of societal expectations and the status quo.

Through my work, I’m fortunate to be able to hold space for conversations with people from all over the world about authentic wellness and the countless ways to live a meaningful life.

The website is a safe space for community, connection, and showcasing how everyday people live, pursue, and embody authentic wellness on their terms. The platform provides examples to people looking for other paths and ways to think about wellness outside of the capitalistic messaging we see everywhere today.

As a designer, I work with clients – primarily female entrepreneurs whose work is focused on making our world healthier and more equitable.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I’d known about Grammarly and Otter.ai earlier in my creative journey. I do a lot of writing and transcribing; those tools have been two of the best investments I make every year.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Earlier this year, I decided to quit my comfortable corporate job. I made the decision for many reasons, but the main one was that I knew that the quality of life that I wanted to live didn’t align with the role that I was in. I’d spent a couple of years trying to pivot within the company and had even considered switching to a different firm. Ultimately, I decided to take the leap and quit. Since then, many doors have opened within my career and personal life. I’m finally able to travel domestically and internationally while I work. The projects that I work on feel incredibly meaningful and fulfilling to me. And overall, I’m thankful that I have more flexibility to pivot my life in whatever direction I feel called.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.KasharaJohnson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kashara_johnson/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kasharajohnson