Daily Inspiration: Meet Jessie Marcus

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessie Marcus.

Hi Jessie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I consider myself a very lucky girl. Through several decades and a multitude of incarnations, I have been fortunate to follow my nudges and work with exceptional humans in careers that I love. It’s been a wild and wonderful ride(and still is) and I am grateful for it all. Mother, daughter, artist, producer, and mentor, all are roles that inform me in rich and deep ways and contribute to the eclectic tapestry that is my life.

I relocated to Los Angeles from Atlanta, GA and it felt like a small-town girl goes to the big city. I came here a spiritual seeker and moved into a meditation community with some rules and regs including ones not unlike a monastery. At 24 all the good intentions couldn’t keep me from falling in love and breaking one of the primary rules and as nature would have it, my son was born. Game changer and the best thing to ever happen to me! My son is my greatest teacher and I am happy to say my favorite person. I said I was a lucky girl and I mean it.

It’s fun to look back and see the places I’ve been and the people I’ve met along the way. When I felt drawn to something I moved in that direction to the best of my ability and said yes when opportunities presented themselves. It’s never been a straight line but each twist and turn added to the adventure and made the rewards meaningful. I remember going to Universal Studios for the very first time and when they drove us by a backlot where they were filming a movie, I almost leapt out of the tram. I had no idea what was going on but I had such a visceral reaction and felt like I belonged there that I was forever changed. I started making food for video shoots, went on to be a production assistant and then associate producer for commercial projects before I launched into becoming an Independent Producer. Being mentored along the way, having on-the-ground experience and making mistakes formed me. During that time, I also attended a Master’s program in Spiritual Psychology, graduating with an emphasis on Consciousness, Health and Healing. You would be surprised at how handy that education is in the fast-paced world of production with insane deadlines and intense personalities.

Call it luck or destiny, I was recruited to host a radio show interviewing NY Times best-selling authors in Health and Spirituality and for 2 years I co-hosted a prime-time radio show in LA talking to cutting-edge people who shared amazing work and vision with our audience. Radio is a strange animal and you rarely knew who was listening but I would often pinch myself as I sat in front of innovative thinkers attending my own private school of awesome.

My career as a producer took me into subcultures, countries, living rooms and dressing rooms of the famous. I danced on the streets of New Orleans and the streets of Disney World. I sailed on oceans and climbed mountains in search of the best shot. And it was fun! Throughout I was influenced by my curiosity in human psychology and my greatest strength has been my humor, calm approach, and ability to acknowledge and support people’s strengths. The amazing humans I know, mentor and learn from become teams filled with good feelings and productivity. There truly is nothing better than creating an atmosphere of collaboration and witnessing people rise to their greatest capability.

And then there was Covid. And if that wasn’t enough, I threw a cancer diagnosis in there as well. “You picked a good time to have cancer,” people would say as if there is ever a good time. “No one is doing anything anyway.” they’d continue, but life doesn’t stand still for anything and the show had to go on, so the proverbial rug of all I had known, identified with and invested my time into for 20 years was pulled out from under me. What now, I wondered.

Whether I wanted to or not my focus became my health and coming to a greater awareness and understanding of what my body needed. I was now producing the biggest project of my life, my wellness. I asked myself what was the learning and gift in the situation because I truly felt like there was something on offer. I studied my relationship with my thinking and realized it could be an ally in my healing or my greatest challenge. I strengthened the practice of listening to my wisdom and befriended myself like never before. And with the help of modern medicine, nutritionists and a massive support system of friends and family I am writing this now stronger and more vital than ever and not taking it for granted. There is that lucky girl thing again.

But something was also stirring in me. With all the space that my treatment and recovery created, there was lots of time for self-reflection. My training in Spiritual Psychology, certifications in various coaching programs and my study of Expressive arts was calling me to use that knowledge in support of others. I love being a Producer and always will but I see so many people suffering in various ways and I want to be of service to help alleviate that suffering if possible.

I launched my Coaching/ Mentoring practice and my ArtNSoul Experience workshops in 2022 and it is amaaaaaaazing!

I am witness to individuals, families, friends, groups in recovery and just about any combination of humans you can think of wake up to their creativity and well-being. Having conversations about our relationship to our thinking and how it impacts our life are transformational and inspire sustainable change. We don’t have to believe everything we think and that awareness can lead to more conscious choices in our feelings and actions. And working with Expressive Art is a tool that fosters a gentle exploration into how we see ourselves in the world and supports greater self-awareness and increased well-being. Good stuff!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The greatest challenge I’ve encountered along the way in my career as a producer or my work in counseling is the quality of self-talk that takes place. Henry Ford said” “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.” The thoughts of comparing myself to others and now the world of appearance on social media can be fuel for the fire of self-doubt or confidence and everything in between. Trying to “fit in” over listening to my inner guidance sent me the long way round at several junctures in my life but once the noise turned down and I could hear myself clearly my personal path became an adventure with curiosity and gratitude my companions. It’s a constant practice and the scenery differs from day to day but I am enjoying the ride.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
There are a variety of ways I work together with clients and whether through 1:1 or group sessions, expressive arts or a combination, they are bespoke and designed after we have connected in an initial session. I feel fortunate to have a variety of tools in the toolbox and be inspired by our time together to explore what works best. We may use mindfulness, nature, movement or art along with conversations that transform.

My coaching approach Is intuitive, down-to-earth and collaborative. Our work together is forward-focused on wholeness and well-being. I share an understanding that allows you to naturally and easily access your own state of well-being and creativity without having more work to do. You will experience learning a new relationship to thought and through this simple understanding, a state of ease and peace that impacts all areas of your life will emerge.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
In this moment, what I am learning and reminded of daily:

• Life is precious. This is a temporary assignment and every second is a gift.
• We are not broken. Wholeness and well-being are alive and well within.
• Many problems can be solved by dancing.
• We are all artists.
• Don’t give up on yourself.
• Don’t be afraid to love the fabulous mess that you are.
• I’m not done learning and never will be!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessiemarcus.com/
• Instagram: ArtNSoul_jessie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessie.marcus.92
• Other: artNsoul_jessie on threads.net