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

Alright, Michelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

The creative journey is not a straight-forward pathway and is not simply one skill-set to be honed and polished. It is important to embrace all the ways one can nourish their being and to give essential space for the mind to grasp creativity in every way it is possible; the opportunities are truly never-ending and always surrounding us. Life presents many learning lessons.

When I look back on my own creative endeavors; I was always doing them. I have kept written journals and poetry since I was old enough to write, some dating back to age 6; and I made up songs since I could speak. Dancing brings my body joy. When we embrace our natural skills and lean into the peace created; it is a beautiful relationship of Self Love built.

In an actualized way, early on, I was not very interested in business and I never thought I had artistic skills. I am horrible with painting and anything that requires fine-hand grasp. I once won a coloring contest as a small child, an exceptionally large oversized rabbit I named Strawberry was my prize. I am very good at staying in the lines. I often struggled with free form artistic expression and channeled my focus into more collected approaches. My collections were always meticulously kept. I have always been a librarian of collections. I have an eye for color and design in my environment and would surround myself with colors and patterns that I enjoyed. I made my own clothes and eventually taught myself how to sew. I channeled my likes through the style of the clothing I would wear; thrift stores were a haven to explore and vintage was always in. When my life melted down past the point of frivolous privilege, I learned the masterful artisanal weaves of the invisible but tangible; working with emotions and supporting the neurodivergent. I bounce all over artistic ideas like a hummingbird darting through a maze of well-hung sugar feeders. What I cannot create, I ingest, and seek more of what helps my mind sort out feelings through the mental chaos. Art is a focus. Within it I find massive inspiration.

On the path which I find myself, only recently would I say I am artistic at anything, because I have only begun to recognize the mindful effort and skillful approaches applied in many ways; but I was always doing it. The road to valuation, we think, begins with a set price and a market value; but when you are uniquely made, it can take awhile to find your niche market and rejection is real. If it takes a lifetime to learn your true value through acceptance and validation from the world, then so be it. I am still learning and looking forward to journeys ahead and what more I have for to share from my best Self. I wish I had started this Self Love journey earlier but the lessons of life have given me more depth of wisdom for to share in my creations, so they are richly infused with artful mastery and experience. Also, I think not specifically focusing on one art and allowing myself to engage in a lifetime of many, has been helpful in creating a broad range of skill-sets that have served me well in many personal and professional capacities; and I think hyper-focusing in one direction can leave a person unbalanced in terms of experience and perspective and I am glad for room for to “play” and find the crafts and skills that bring me joy to practice.

Michelle, 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?

I am a Professional Librarian; Communications & Relationship Expert; All-ages & Abilities Professional Educator, College Teacher; Designer; Usui Reiki Master Teacher; Neurodivergent Advocate; Public Speaker; Author; Actress; and Poet.

I aid understanding and emotional wealth in all interactions and I provide inspiration and motivation as I seek to guide and support with research-based applied practices in motion. I work with clients in many ways and in many stages of being, but I often find those in motion of life transitions find my anxiety-easing approaches and energy work methods to be most beneficial and soothing. I am oil in the machine; the kintsugi that helps them to feel supported and more complete in these processes.

I see Reiki & Thai Massage clients for body and energy work services. I am available for individual or group education or speaking; I support small businesses, non-profits, and artists in a variety of ways as they are building and organizing their businesses. I work with clients to positively problem solve through their anxieties, fears, invalidated experiences, and relationship difficulties. I am a relationships and communications consultant and can provide an anxiety easing approach backed by research, empathy, and a lifetime of experience. In my free time I leak out inspirational readings, rambles, poetry, graphic designs, and the occasional TikTok danceoff challenge video.

Living is my Art in Motion Masterfully Applied.

My artistic endeavors can be found on Youtube: M.L. Sokol
& Instagram @Solaria_Bryte

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Support Artists. Support Small Businesses. Living artists and designers are always surrounding you and happy to be appreciated. There are so many styles and varieties and art is always uniquely created. Splurge when you can and fill your life with the beauty of art expressed. I am so grateful for the love and support I have received and I wouldn’t be where I am without it.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I strive to be the best I can be and to share my gifts of being with the Universe to make the world a better place. I see so many I am surrounded with in need of supports; and the world is a better place when we can share our strengths and confidently shine out as our authentic selves of being. My mission is to be a bright light of motivation and hope to all of those who feel stuck in the muck and do not know how to problem-solve their way out. There is always a way to connect with our inner spark of Soul, and it is my mission to support that heart-mind connection of intuition expressed with confidence from the human experience. Shine out! Be bryte! Have the confidence to light up your life!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solaria_bryte/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-sokol-b9527b37/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChZ3P9BnksBzb0M_yG2y3Pw