Meet Crea Jackson of With Love, Crea

I never stated that I was a Black media enthusiast, wellness writer or wellness advocate until this summer. Even though as I look back, those have always been titles that describe me. I’ve always created and/or took part in ways to uplift and empower the Black community. My college experience definitely encouraged and provided resources to execute those kinds of ideas. However, postcollege, I realized it was going to take some work and time to get into spaces where it’s possible for that to be my lifestyle and career. Which is something I’ve always desired.

A few months after graduating, I started With Love, Crea, which was originally a blogging space for me to share my words and reflections. Earlier this year, I added in my newsletter. This was really a way for me to share some of the amazing Black media I consume. As my vision became clearer this summer, I adjusted the intentions of With Love, Crea to fit what I feel called to do in my life. Around this same time, I began to feel drawn to breathwork. So I completed the training and received a breathwork teacher certification, which has been the perfect addition to With Love, Crea. Everything has started to come together very nicely. But it’s important for me to say that where I’m at today is because I chose to be bold and move with my purpose in mind.

This has included taking my own healing journey seriously, so I can be clear on how I’m meant to serve others. By doing this, doors have opened up for me. I’m seeing the small shifts in my life and I feel very blessed and grateful. I’ve seen this quote from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (which I have yet to complete) that says, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”. That quote feels a lot like what God is doing in my life. And I’m trying to go with that flow.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No it hasn’t, but I’m starting to learn that challenges come with the territory of growth and expansion. I’d say one challenge has definitely been having to take a look at my relationships in a general sense. Through life, relationships grow closer, change, and sometimes end. For me, it’s been about discerning those shifts when it’s time. Time and energy are important to me and I’m a strong believer that they must be used with intention. A lot of our time and energy goes to the company we keep. So I started realizing how important it was to consider how the people around me made me feel. Am I receiving what I’m giving? Are they contributing to my growth? Supporting my joy? Encouraging my expansion?

Asking myself these questions causes me to now realign when needed. And many times that can be tough and painful. But when you’re driven by purpose like me, the company you keep has to reinforce and support your growth and healing. The last challenge I’ll share has been staying focused during the hard seasons. Adulting comes with some challenging seasons. There’s been family matters, working at a job that didn’t make me happy, feelings of lowness and anxiety. It’s tough to push through during these times. But it’s necessary when you are led by purpose. Now I think of the challenges as opportunities to strengthen my connection to God. Which is imperative to how I’m called to serve my community, as it’s where my inspiration flows from for With Love, Crea.

With Love, Crea – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
With Love, Crea is a wellness space dedicated to uplifting and empowering the Black community. As the creator, I believe my purpose in life is to hold space, particularly for the Black community and other communities of color, in their journey to embodying feelings of wholeness and joy. I do this through the (currently online) wellness space I’ve created. My media findings, love letters and breathwork are my offerings to the community.

Through my biweekly newsletter, I share the latest dish of tea with intention; consisting of the latest podcasts, interviews, articles, music and more. The content I find reinforces an energy and state of Black power. Black creativity. Black healing. Black joy. I consider myself a Black media enthusiast. So I believe it’s very important to consume this kind of media in our daily lives, especially now when we’re literally watching the death of Black people. My hope is that after reading each issue, you’re lifted higher through community, culture, love and reflection. I also share my reflections and revelations (which are my love letters) on my website and through social media. And then of course, there’s breathwork.

Being a Black media enthusiast stems from me being an overall wellness advocate for the Black community and other communities of color. There’s a strong connection between our breath and access to feelings of wholeness, safety, and joy in our bodies. Through our breath, we have the capacity to hold ourselves in such a sacred way. We can connect deeper to ourselves, we can release what’s not serving us, and the list goes on. I think of it as an honor to guide people as they truly discover and utilize their power through breath. We deserve to feel whole. We deserve to feel joy.

In this upcoming year, I plan to continue organizing breathwork circles. I look forward to expanding in the ways I can serve the community through online and in-person events, conversations and more. I also look forward to collaborating with other like-minded creatives and wellness advocates on events that serve and elevate our community. “I exist with love. I create with love. I serve with love.” That’s what sets With Love, Crea apart.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Within this brief amount of time, I’m proud to see the reward of expressing myself. When we decide to show up in the world authentically and wholeheartedly in our purpose, we’re choosing to be courageous. We’re trusting that the right people and opportunities will gravitate towards our authenticity. And that’s what’s slowly happening for me. Being seen is a special thing. And when people connect with the ways I’m led to serve, it’s confirmation that I’m on the right path. Being featured in this article is a great example.

Pricing:

• Single breathwork sessions $50 via Zoom
• Breathwork circles $10 via Zoom

Contact Info:

• Website: withlovecrea.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @withlovecrea, @creajackson