We were lucky to catch up with Mimi Amaral recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mimi , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.
The journey was unexpected, and I must give credit to Cosmic alignment and Divine guidance.
One night as I was walking to my car during the end of my undergraduate program, I was in a very blissful mood appreciating all the flowers, trees, and nature surrounding me, and suddenly within myself I heard, “you should create a focus called entertainment psychology.” I paused and said to myself, “Wait that is a good idea, but surely it has to already exist. I mean there is sports psychology …” Well, the very next day I inquired with the American Psychology Association [APA] and sure enough there was nothing like what I had wanted to develop, but there was a catch. I was told to do so I had to be a doctor and be a member of the American Psychology Association [APA]. Guess what my next step was? Yes, I applied for a graduate program, and when I was accepted, I again thought to myself, “There has to be a way to get this started sooner than later.”” So, again, I contacted the APA and joyously discovered that I could file a petition for a new division if I was able to get a doctor who was a member with the APA to sign the required paperwork with me. I’m grateful to share that I was blessed to have connected with Dr. Richard Carolan who supported my endeavor and as a first-year student was successful in getting the petition for an aspired new division approved with the American Psychology Association. The next step, which to this day I’m still wrestling with is to get 800 APA members to sign the petition for the aspired division for Entertainment Psychology. I personally believe there may be a way to acknowledge the human factor for those who endure the path as a celebrity while also co-creating avenues of health and wellness for the journey.
For all who are interested in reading the description for the aspired Entertainment Psychology division and to sign the petition I welcome you to visit: https://www.apa.org/about/division/entertainment-psychology-petition
Thus far the journey has been bumpy, slow, and unproductive toward attaining signatures for many reasons such as learning how to navigate the culture and logistics of the APA as well as being the sole caregiver for both parents over the past thirteen years while walking with both parents through the end of life as they passed away. However, while walking the journey I realized that I still had a voice surrounding the need and aspiration to develop Entertainment Psychology, and that is when I discovered my abilities as an author.
So, the above snapshot is how I stumbled upon being an author and the beginning of the journey toward writing the book that supports the concept for Entertainment Psychology and each additional book I have written thereafter; five in total.
The book supporting the concept for Entertainment Psychology, and some potential ideas for health and wellness within the entertainment industry for all humans who are identified as celebrities, which encompasses the spectrum from actors, artists, musicians, athletes, etc., are indicated in my book:
Bright Lights, Dark Shadows: The Shadow Side of Celebrity and Fame
Synopsis of book: This book delves into the shadow side (unspoken aspects) of celebrity and fame for entertainers and athletes. One may think being in the world of entertainment and sports is a dream come true, but is it? The hidden truths are exposed and explored within.
The author leads you through the possible subjective reality and brings to life the unique issues that entertainers and athletes face in their industries. Subjects covered, but not limited to, are:
– Lifestyle Risks (e.g., loneliness and isolation, anxiety, depression, acute decomposition, drugs, and death);
– Lack of Personal Space (e.g., para-social relationships, worship, obsession, stalking, and paparazzi);
– Fall from Grace (e.g., ageism, plastic surgery, type casting, coming out, and child stars);
– Observation and Integration (e.g., Advocacy);
– Shadow to Light (e.g., fast forward to present day)
Once I opened to the idea of putting words on paper to empower the reader the floodgates opened, and my dreams became very vivid. I felt as if I got out of my own way and the process was channeled through me as I was writing each word, paragraph, and chapter. I had clear dreams on the outline for each of the chapters, the content, and even the design of the covers for each book. What I was also very grateful for was that in the books after the one I wrote to support the concept for the aspired Entertainment Psychology division I was able to attain anonymous testimonies to support many of the concept within each of the chapters to bring a human component to the books.
The additional books I’ve written are:
Emasculated: Men Are Abused Too
Death: Before & After, A Survivors Guide
Lurking in the Dark: Reality of the Times
Alternative Conception: From Infertility to Delivery
Each of my books may be purchased on Amazon at:
Mimi , 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?
Oh gosh, I never know where to begin with this question when it is posed. I used to say, “have you ever seen the boy in the plastic bubble, the John Travolta version?” Then I realized how old I am, and that no longer made any sense to those asking.
So, to not only share my journey, but mostly empower others I developed my website: https://mimipsy-d.com/
This website explains much of my life path as well as provides insight for many other topics through articles, podcasts, radio interviews, and public speaking.
I began the website by saying: The answers are within, only you can unlock your journey … Why do I say this because I have lived it. May I suggest: Stop looking outside yourself for answers; rather, look within for truth.
I further exemplify on my bio page with the following:
If you have listened to the podcasts below you may now understand that due to life threatening congenital immune deficiencies, heart complications, and systemic lupus I have embraced the walk I talk. Throughout my life I had to advocate for myself, acknowledge medical and childhood wounds, process the lessons, and let go of the pain and unhealthy aspects to heal my mind, heart, body, and spirit. I accomplished this by facing, feeling, integrating, healing, and changing the unhealthy to embrace a healthier way of existing. By doing so I was able to find my “truth” and embrace my healthy self [Authentic Self].
I believe self-actualization is a continual process for me, and I will continue to challenge myself to evolve until my last breath.
From birth, I have faced and walked through adverse circumstances that led me to a diagnosis of death at age fifteen, and a prognosis that I would never live past the age of nineteen and half -twenty. I did not succumb to the belief set forth by doctors, and at twenty chose to change my outcome even if it meant, “To live to live, or live to die.” In addition, as I matured childhood wounds presented themselves and I chose to face, feel, integrate, heal, and change them to move toward my healthy self.
My first step out of the hospital and into the world connected me directly with the entertainment and sports industries. I have been interacting with professionals within the entertainment, sports, news, and political industries for 33 years.
Additionally, through my pursuit of self-actualization I have found a passion for advocating for others. I have accomplished this by writing five books, speaking for RAINN and Verity, writing and directing a video for Vagina Monologues, and writing many articles to advocate, bring awareness, help uplift others, and support special causes.
Furthermore, through my educational quest I created a petition with the American Psychology Association titled: Entertainment Psychology with the aspiration to develop a new division during my first year of graduate school. I have also counseled and interacted with at risk youth, adults with dual diagnosis [mental illness], elders with Dementia/Alzheimer, Grief and Family support, and developed programs for caregivers within an organizational environment [Agesong].
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Upon reflection of the depth and breadth of my life’s journey I realize that I may have been born with resilience and cannot take full credit. I have innately trusted a higher essence, which I call Cosmic alignment and Divine guidance [i.e., Source]. This does not, however, mean that I surrender my choice for making decisions and their outcomes, nor forfeit the responsibility for my choices. It merely means that I co-create my path with higher guidance to make the healthiest informed decision while also learning each lesson that is presented along the way so I may pivot and grow from each experience.
I can honestly express that experiencing everything that has unfolded along my path only strengthens my alliance.
You may be asking what I mean by believing in being born with resilience. Well, my first presentation of resilience was being conceived while my mother was taking birth control pills. Thereafter, I was born a month premature weighing merely four pounds. Additionally, it was not discovered until much later in my teens, but I had been born with multiple medical conditions, immune mutations with deficiencies, and multiple environmental as well as medication allergies leading to a diagnosis of six months to live at approximately fifteen and a half. The whole story is on my website if anyone wishes to learn more: https://mimipsy-d.com/
I feel my resilience humming within even in the midst of the darkest moments along my path. No one is immune to growing pains, hills, or valleys. Every single step can teach us something about ourselves as well as others, and every lesson and success experienced may foster self-actualization and be shared to empower others along their journey. I deeply appreciate and cherish life and look forward to waking up every morning to take in a breath of pure existence.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
As far back as I can remember I’ve felt a deep connection with fellow Humans, this connection sparked a passion within me to advocate and help others. My aspiration is to witness, empower, and help humans understand that they are not alone. I will do my best to advocate, educate, present, and empower avenues toward healing knowing that everyone’s path is unique to themselves and encompasses their own process and timing, All I can do is share my experiences and acquired knowledge-wisdom, which may or may not resonate, and while walking each step of my life’s journey remain mindful of the truth that no one needs to be judged for the choice they make.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mimipsy-d.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.MimiAmaral/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcXxK1ayEuUo8vie4E0Z5Sw
Image Credits
Tammy Stover