How to Become Your Own Biggest Fan: The Verywell Mind Podcast

On today's episode, I talk with actress KJ Smith about her road to success and mental health struggles along the way.

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Healthy Mind How to Become Your Own Biggest Fan With Actress KJ Smith Amy Morin, LCSW Verywell Mind Editor-in-Chief On today's episode, I talk with actress KJ Smith. She shares the story of how she got started by moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting, landing appearances in a variety of shows over the years, and working her way into bigger roles. Currently, she has a lead role in the BET comedy-drama series "Sistas" and she is also going to star in the upcoming season of Starz' "Power Book III: Raising Kainan." She isn't shy about talking about her mental health. She has become an advocate for therapy and self-care. Why KJ Smith Is Mentally Strong KJ says she has faced some ups and downs in her career and she has learned that it's important to become her own biggest fan. Her rise to fame has taught her a lot about herself, how important it is to have boundaries, and be her authentic self. She is very open about her struggles with mental health and the steps she is taking to stay mentally strong.   When I was in school, you only had three people telling you what's cool and what to do and what to wear and how to be and what not to do. Now people have 7 billion people influencing their decisions, influencing their ears and their brain and their thoughts." — KJ Smith   What You'll Hear on the Show How KJ learned to be comfortable with her emotions What happens when other people aren't comfortable with her emotional expressions How she learned to become her own biggest fan How she fills her mind with helpful, positive things The modifications she makes to her environment that help her stay mentally healthy How she establishes boundaries with people How she got through several bouts of depression How she uses music to manage her mood How she uses social media in a healthy way How she chooses to give other people grace How to tune out the noise around you when you're trying to make decisions What You'll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength KJ talks about having bouts of depression. Periods of depression can be common. Some people have serious depressive episodes, others have mild depressive episodes. Some people get better without professional help. Others require treatment, like medication or therapy, to feel better. Depressive episodes aren't a sign of weakness. Despite your best efforts, they may still happen to you from time to time. This may stem from your brain chemistry or it may depend on environmental factors. Building mental strength may help prevent some depressive episodes but not all. Feeling depressed isn't a sign of weakness. It can happen to anyone.   Meditation is essential because you have to silence your thoughts to really hear what's true." — KJ Smith   LISTEN NOW Follow: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS READ THESE NEXT The Difference Between Mental Strength and Mental Health READ NOW  › How Systemic Racism Takes a Toll on Mental Health READ NOW  › Self-Compassion Exercises to Boost Your Happiness READ NOW  › You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. A DOTDASH MEREDITH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10005 © 2022 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy