We recently had the chance to connect with Jess Alise McManus and have shared our conversation below.
Jess Alise, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity. While each of those characteristics are admirable and beautiful in their own way, I find integrity to be a core defining attribute of people that I trust. I believe that through integrity one can be more attuned to their inner intelligence and be able to contribute energetically to the world that is more aligned with their core self. Intelligence and energy can be fleeting, appearing one way in a single moment and changing in the next. Integrity is a guiding force that stays true no matter the circumstance.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a visual artist who has become enamored with geometry and mindfulness. My goal is to tie these loves together and to create art that resonates with people visually, but also emotionally. In a world that can be so overwhelming I would love to provide the viewer with a moment of peace within themselves. My partner, Alex Gibson, is also a very talented multi-disciplinary artist with similar interests. Our dream is to create a collaborative studio space and store named “Groove Revival” that combines our skills to create thoughtful crafted goods and art that remind people of the potential within themselves.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
It is hard for me to choose a singular moment. There have been so many beautiful memories that I have experienced with loved ones and by myself. From traveling the country for music festivals, to camping, to hiking, to dinners with family. These have been fundamental to my understanding of how incredible life can be, and how much there is to explore.
However I also find that my darkest emotional moments have fundamentally changed who I am and my perspective of life. While I will not share specifics to my individual story, I will share universal feelings that most people experience. Loneliness, depression, fear, despair, anxiety. A cruel reminder of the harsh realities that are continuously present on this planet.
The experiences of these polarities shape my world view. Gratitude for the beautiful moments are strengthened by the remembrance of my personal suffering and the constant suffering of many people in the world.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
For a very long time I did not share things that I struggled with. I was fearful of being perceived, for being judged, or for having other people worrying about me. I thought that by sharing what I was experiencing, I would scare people away. Over time the darkness that I was experiencing was too difficult to mask. I began sharing bits and pieces of my emotions with other people who were incredibly kind and receptive. I found that by being honest with my experience, no matter how difficult, led others to open up about their own pain. I would find so many connections when talking with these people, and through that connection and community I found healing.
I used to be fearful to ask people how they were doing. But now, I love to. If there is an opportunity to provide someone with space to express themselves – I take it. I think that by facing my own pain and expressing it led me to want to listen and hear others stories because I know how isolating it can be to hold in my emotions and not be heard.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that when I found inner peace, that nothing “bad” would ever happen to me again. That karmically, my life would be perfect and that I would never struggle again. Ha! Silly young Jess.
I now deeply know that no matter where you are on your journey, as a fundamental element of life – you will experience suffering. There are beautiful waves of life where everything feels perfect, but that does not mean it will always be perfect. The same is true for the other side of that wave. While suffering may feel infinite and like it will never end – it will. You will find joy again even in small moments. And all of those experiences whether “good” or “bad” make up this beautiful experience that we call life, and I find it important to my wellbeing to be grateful for all of it.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing?
I currently regret not pursuing my dream of being an artist earlier. I always loved art. As a kid, I would constantly draw. I loved drawing mermaids for my mom and strange creatures for my dad. Art was my favorite subject in school, and the only one that I actually enjoyed and looked forward to other than P.E. While I excelled in many topics, art was the only one that I felt truly called to. After high school, I stopped creating. I thought that I had to pursue a degree that would make me money and that was “realistic”. I did not create for upwards of 4 years. After rediscovering how much I loved art when living alone, it was difficult to sit down and pursue it. I felt as though I was blocked. I struggled for many years, and realized I needed to prioritize my mental health and physical wellbeing. As I learned how to take better care of myself and invested time into education of things that made me happy – the creative flow came back.
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