We were lucky to catch up with Nita Patel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nita, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I genuinely wish I had started my creative career sooner. I wish someone had told me that it was ok to have a job to pay the bills and to pursue my passion to find fulfillment and life purpose. Sometimes, those things are all one, but for most people, a job is just a job, and a passion is just a hobby and passion. When I was dabbling in the arts while at my corporate job, I felt like I had to hide who I was because of the idea that I was expected to respond to emails late into the evening and night and that if I had a life outside of that, there was some conflict of interest. Since the pandemic, the culture has shifted quite a bit, and it seems that people pursuing their side gigs is acceptable now more than ever.

If I had started my creative career earlier, I think it would’ve made me a better employee over time as I found healing, balance, expression, and an outlet my brain couldn’t practice in my 9-5 days, which it desperately needed. Being acknowledged as a real artist takes dedication and commitment, and while I have 12+ years into my creative career, I sometimes feel that I would be in a different place today, a more evolved artist, had I not skipped the 15 years in-between where I wasn’t doing anything creative. Growing up, I would sing, dance, and participate in drama and other creative activities.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started creating art for my personal peace and joy. It was my escape from the day when I could destress and be lost in something creative. I never thought anything of it except that it was fun and enjoyable. It was my quiet time with myself. Yet, I felt so much better after spending a few hours immersing myself in it. As a writer who loved poetry and had been writing poetry since high school, it reminded me of how I felt when I was obsessed with something as a teen and how words made me feel fulfilled to describe the moment I was in. When I first started painting, I was in the midst of my very first existential crisis, and creating allowed me to feel connected and lost in something beautiful and poetic. As my journey progressed, I met with some unforeseen life circumstances, and through that, I stayed with my creative expression. In 2018, I was interviewed by a journalist in NYC who asked me, “Why the hearts”? It was at this moment that I realized what was happening.

I had literally picked up the shattered pieces of glass to make my heart whole again, over and over, until I felt complete. The eight multi-media piece collection in that recent exhibition featured hearts made of iridescent glass, wood, and acrylic, reflecting a shimmering, almost magical transformational quality.

Finding a safe space to express myself was difficult amidst the darkness of my existential crisis. Painting and creating art felt safe. It gave me a sense of security and peace.

When I responded to the reporter, I had a moment of realization. If I could heal myself through art, I could help heal others. And this was the beginning of my purpose journey. Fast-forward to 2022, as I wrapped up my graduate studies in organizational psychology at Harvard, my mission came to me: Healing the World Through Art. This mission allows me to integrate psychology and art to help the world through creative means.

If I can elevate one person, that person will impact the next and the next. It’s a domino effect. I want to uplift people and give them love, joy, and inspiration to find their passion.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I’m not sure I would label anyone as non-creative. Even the best analyst or engineer is successful by being creative. People often mislabel what creativity consists of.

There is a misconception that society has inflicted upon people by suggesting if you can’t sing, dance, or make a painting, then you don’t have a creative bone in your body. The truth is that every entrepreneur and business owner has to be creative to stay in business. The business world is not about following an exact formula. Just because it works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for everyone who tries it. To win, being original and finding your way of doing something is much appreciated and creates as much success as your competitor.

For example, many of us repeatedly watch the same genre of movies. The storyline is typically the same. We already know how it may end, but we want to know the details of HOW it unfolds and comes together. This part is different for each storyline.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

As a curious and avid learner, reader, YouTube watcher, online program shopper (well, not anymore, but I sure used to be), and a 12x’s best-selling author myself, there are certainly books and programs that were critical to my mindset. Here are a few classics that supported me through the beginning of my journey and are always a great refresher to go back to Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, with my favorite coach and mentor, the late Bob Proctor, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, my masters curriculum that heavily delved into human psychology and the teachings of my guru HH Mahant Swami Maharaj are all key contributors. Additionally, my 20+ years of corporate experience have helped me manage my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nitapatelfineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenitapatel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neeta.patel.3979
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thenita/

Image Credits
Shyam Patel, Vasant Patel