Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Soma Vajpayee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Soma , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

I have been fortunate to have many defining moments in my life that have been an intricate dance between achieving purpose and balance between my career and family. It’s been a combination of deliberate decisions and  unplanned opportunities that have shown up for me. In the initial years of my financial career, I dedicated long hours to work, striving to succeed and quickly climb the corporate ladder. As I transitioned into a married life, as a young couple, we navigated the complexities of adjusting to each other, balancing work demands with our personal journey. Upon becoming a young parent, a new set of challenges emerged. I transitioned to a different role of motherhood, eventually leaving my job during the Financial crisis in 2008 to focus on parenting. The dynamics of raising children, coupled with living with extended family, presented unique hurdles (in many Asian families that is a norm). Our family journey took us to different locations, including Hong Kong, India, and now in the U.S., each time requiring me to rebuild different aspects of my life. Interestingly, the decision to quit my job for my family had initially made me feel resentful, but moving to new places brought new adventures and explorations in my career front too. I explored and combined various career experiences, ranging from banking, education, art, and coaching, and currently, I am a mental health clinician (art therapist).
Throughout this journey, I maintained a delicate balance between pursuing my purpose in career and fulfilling responsibilities towards my family. It’s an ongoing process of finding harmony amidst the ever-changing elements of life’s flavor. We need to have to plan, but be equally flexible towards overall personal growth and opportunities that knock at our door. It is OKAY to have different goals at different phases of your life!

Soma , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have been juggling multiple roles in my life – as a mother of three teenagers, wife, daughter, a former banker, a social enterprise owner, business coach, artist, and now a clinician. It has been essential to find effective coping mechanisms to maintain efficiency in balancing roles and being grounded for myself and my loved ones. This challenge deeply invested in me in my well-being.

Even before pursuing my Master’s program in Art Therapy, I recognized the therapeutic benefits of art, creativity, and mindfulness. However, it was during the tumultuous year of Covid-19 that I embarked on a transformative journey. I committed to a project of creating art every day for 100 days (#100daysofart), documenting my encounters with nature during walks. This practice became my lifeline, helping me navigate through the stress, anxiety, and darkness that surrounded me during those uncertain times. The watercolours soothed me and allayed my fears.

Art has been a constant companion throughout my life, serving as an anchor during the most challenging moments. From dealing with a dysfunctional family  rift with parental conflict to navigating through academic pressures and gender imbalances in graduate school, transitions into motherhood, moving across cities and professions. Art has provided solace, anchor and inspiration as I navigated the complexities of my life. Even though I did not go to art school, I have been prolific with my art and I have been fortunate to showcase my work in exhibitions across Mumbai, Hong Kong, Prague, and New York, reflecting the profound impact art has had on my journey.

A few years ago, I reached a crossroads in my career and decided to pursue a Master’s in Art Therapy at NYU. I realized that the benefits I had experienced personally could extend to others, particularly those facing severe medical conditions and mental health challenges.

My work in art therapy has taken me to diverse populations and settings, from schools and old age homes to inpatient psychiatric units and substance use rehab facilities. Currently, I work as a child therapist in a family practice in Westchester and spend my weekends in a hospital, providing treatment and stabilization for patients experiencing psychosis.

Art therapy, with its integrative approach combining art-making processes with psychological theories, offers a holistic framework for healing. Through art, clients can express themselves, regulate emotions, and gain a sense of mastery over their experiences. As an art therapist, I bear witness to their journey, offering empathic support and guidance along the way.

In essence, my journey in art therapy exemplifies the transformative power of creativity and mindfulness in promoting mental health and well-being. It’s a privilege to accompany others on their path towards healing and self-discovery, using art as a medium for expression, exploration, growth, and resilience. This is what I am most passionate about.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have always dreamt of having an exhibition of my artworks. I stressed about making “perfect art”. There were always too many questions that plagued my mind- would people appreciate my art, did I have enough body of art work in a certain genre, which art gallery would provide me space, etc? During this phase I was also practicing to be a business coach. To receive my coach license, our coach cohort had to coach each other. The coaching came at the right time and helped me in shifting my mind set about the flawed concept of “perfectionism”. It helped me in reinforcing my confidence, going ahead with an exhibition courageously, connecting with my audience, learning the art of “letting go” of the paintings, being open to feedback for my “innermost form of expression” and be open to the universe. For me the best lesson un-learnt – Don’t fret over making “perfect” art, enjoy the process! Be kind to yourself in the process. Most of the time I am not working towards a “beautiful art work” but “expressioning beautifully”. Being focused on my art process, has made me a more authentic artist and opened up many exhibitions opportunities around the world.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Gratitude has helped me make sense of my past, make peace with today and creating a vision for my tomorrow (no matter what it brings). I had a rough start in my childhood, as my parents had an acrimonious relationship and even domestic violence. However, they never separated. As I continued living in this dysfunctional family, I was grateful for multiple protective factors – my best friend’s home was my haven, wonderful teachers who motivated me to strive for academic excellence and my creative outlet in art. I was soon able to leave home and move to a new city by myself, to pursue my higher studies. Since I came from a place where I had seen my mother struggle in her relationship and marriage due to her financial dependence, it resolved me to gain my financial independence. I did my Masters in Business from the best institute in India (Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad), had a banking career in Citibank for over a decade and starting my own social enterprise post that.

I was able to use art to in my personal journey to heal from within, to heal from the hurt that had scarred my heart and mind, and to heal from the burdens that had threatened to define me and my self-worth.
In my life as an artist, I discovered a sanctuary of healing within the realm of colors and forms. The creative process, a language of self-expression, emerged as a balm, offering catharsis.

I now have the opportunity as an art therapist to use these learnings and experiences to work with clients with mental illness towards their treatment and healing

Contact Info:

• Website: www.somavajpayee.com
• Instagram: art_by_soma
• Facebook: Soma biswas Vajpayee
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somavajpayee/

Image Credits
soma