Brain XP Community’s New Song “Broken Eyes” + Free Guide on How to Build Resilience!
There is so much I want to share with you all in this week’s blog! First things first, I am so happy to finally announce that our new Brain XP Community song called Broken Eyes is being released on April 28, 2020!! This date is EXTREMELY special because April 28th is the official date that has been proclaimed by Mayor Kevin Faulconer as Brain XP Day! This year, we are unable to physically meet, but that does not mean we cannot celebrate! SO I am releasing our new community song Broken Eyes on Brain XP Day (April 28th). The music video for Broken Eyes was made a few days after the COVID-19 Quarantine went into effect. It will also be released on April 28th!
There is so much information I want to give you, but before I dive into all of the details about our new Brain XP Community song, I’m going to give you a bit of background. The background information that I am going to give will help you understand the experiences that I used as my “inspiration” for our new song Broken Eyes. I believe the best place to start is with an explanation as to why I felt broken in the first place.
I Felt Broken. Here’s Why…
As a young teen growing up in a stigmatic world, there were times I felt defeated. There were times when I felt I was not good enough. There were times when I simply felt broken.
I’ve learned that there is a big difference between being broken and being put in positions where you have to undergo damaging experiences. Today, I want to share my definition of what it means to be “Damaged NOT Broken” and tell you why I do not feel broken anymore. I would also like to give you my free guide on how to build resilience at the end of this blog entry. It is a guide with resilience tips that have really helped me, and I am confident they will help you too.
Just to clear, though, I am not sharing secrets because there are none. Finding the inner strength that we all have is the primary key to building our growth mindsets and becoming the most resilient forms of ourselves.
I Need to Start with a Story…
Let’s step back for a second. I want to tell you a story that might help you understand one of the many reasons that I felt broken.
Approximately six months before my eighth grade graduation, I was forced to leave my school permanently by administration. I was barely a teenager at the time, and I was one of the loneliest kids you would ever cross paths with. I was already deep in a depression. I was already feeling anxious. I was already experiencing some of the most challenging mental health struggles that a thirteen year old could endure including psychosis.
The school I was removed from was small. There were about 150 students total. That total number of 150 included all of the students from Kindergarten through eighth grade. I first came to this school when I was in Pre-K, and after finishing Pre-K, I entered Kindergarten in the school year of 2006-2007. I went through every grade at this school, and the really cool part was that I had the same set of kids in my class every year because there was only one class per grade. We were almost like a family because we knew each other so well.
In the summer before my eighth grade year, the administration at our school changed. My family and I did everything we possibly could have to inform the new leaders about my mental health struggles. We met with the new school leaders during that summer, and together, we created a plan that would help me be successful in my last year at my school.
Two months into my eighth grade school year of 2014-2015, I was permanently removed by the administration. I had straight A’s. I had not bullied anyone. I was a lonely kid experiencing mental health challenges. I felt broken.
It was then that I realized that even the people who seem like they will support you, might very well not. I lived in a stigmatic world then, and I still do today as that was only the first time I would have to make that realization.
Damaged NOT Broken
With that story in mind, I will tell you my definition of “Damaged NOT Broken” and why I no longer feel broken.
Invisible Scars
Here are my thoughts. We have all experienced hardships. Although it is not fun to go through hard times, our hardships can actually help shape the most incredible versions of ourselves. Hardships leave marks on us. They do not brand us or define us, but they leave invisible scars that stick with us. Those scars are the symbols of our damage, but like I said, they are invisible. Because we cannot see those scars, they are either incredibly easy to let go of OR they are incredibly hard to find. When we cannot find them, it causes us to feel pain. That is why we grieve. That is why we hurt. That is why we feel broken.
Look at the Bright Side...We are ALL in the Same Boat
BUT every single one of us has invisible scars, so we are all in a similar boat. I have found that the best way to let go of the scars that have been giving me trouble is to build my resilience. That is why I really want to give you my free guide on how to build resilience, which you can find at the end of this blog entry or by clicking here.
In the big picture, we are all damaged in some way by our invisible scars, but we all have the inner strength to move past the stubborn scabs that are blocking us from moving on. So yes, we carry damage with us everywhere we go, but by no means, does that mean we are broken.
My Positive Twist on Overcoming the Feeling of Being Broken
Now there is a specific reason that I do not feel broken anymore. It took years for me to fully move on from the story I shared with you today, and it always takes time for me personally to move past any hard experience I face. I no longer feel broken because I was fortunate enough to be able to turn my negatives into positives. Any negative situation I face now simply needs a positive twist. Staying optimistic and looking at the bright side of things has completely turned my life around, and I know it can help you with any of your hardships as well.
Once we have accepted the hardship and made it into a positive, we start to see the incredible version of ourselves begin to show clearly. :)
If you are interested in reading more of my story, I wrote an autobiography detailing all of my experiences with mental health challenges and all of the struggles of being a teenager. I would love for you to read it because I know many of my experiences that I share in my book are very relatable. Click here to take a look at my book, so you can decide if you would like to purchase!
I did promise to give you a guide on how to build resilience, and I always like to honor my promises. SO, again, you can find the guide at the very end of this blog or you can find it by clicking here! For now, I think it is time to move on to the details regarding our new community song called Broken Eyes!
Broken Eyes
Broken Eyes is a collection of many past experiences that have caused emotional pain in my life. The two main topics that seem to be the most present in the song's theme are bullying and stigma. I am now going to share the overall meaning and the overall message of the song.
Overall Meaning
Broken Eyes showcases the mind of a person who is experiencing racing thoughts.
It sends the message that we NEED to value ourselves just as much as others. Taking care of ourselves is not selfish or vain.
This song also sends the message that we need positivity in our lives. Building a support structure is so important, but it is only helpful if we have people who truly support us in our support structures. We deserve respect and kindness, and if we are not receiving that from our support structures, do we actually have SUPPORT structures at all??
Broken Eyes takes listeners on a journey. It contains feelings of defeat, but it also contains feelings of realization. Minds that race can jump from one topic to the next within seconds, and you might be able to hear that scattered confusion throughout the song.
Some things and some people are not meant for our lives. It is hard to accept that and move on, but it is necessary. By the end of the song, I make the tough decision that I will not continue to be treated unkindly and disrespectfully. I will try to take better care of myself, and I will rebuild the damaged portions of my support structure. I will continue on with my life, and I will become a stronger person as each day passes.
How I Created the Entire Music Video for Broken Eyes By Myself in Quarantine!
If you are interested in learning how I created the entire music video for Broken Eyes by myself in quarantine, scroll to the bottom of this blog or click here to watch my recent YouTube video where I explain all of the details about the music video creation process! You will have all the tips and tricks you need to create your own music video at home during quarantine after watching my video!
NEW Brain XP Hoodie is FINALLY Available!!!
I am stoked to announce that the Brain XP Hoodie is FINALLY available! Start sporting our merch anywhere and everywhere you go! Click here to be taken to our Brain XP Store. Show your Brain XP pride, and maybe even purchase one for a friend who you think would benefit from being a part of our Brain XP Community! :) By the way, you will see me rocking our new Brain XP hoodie in the Broken Eyes music video also!
Submit YOUR Broken Eyes Art!
Lastly, I am challenging everyone in the Brain XP Community to submit art that is inspired by Broken Eyes! As a reminder Broken Eyes is being released on April 28th and so is the music video. After you have listened to the song and watched the video, you can send me your art that is inspired by Broken Eyes.
Here are a few examples of the type of art you can send to me:
-cover songs of Broken Eyes
-create a social media edit that showcases your favorite part of the Broken Eyes music video
-make a video of your dance to Broken Eyes
-send in drawings or graphic art inspired by Broken Eyes
The creativity is up to YOU! You can send me your art piece via email at brainxpproject@gmail.com OR you can post your art piece on Instagram. Be sure to tag @brainxpproject on your post, so that I can see your amazing art pieces! We will repost your submissions after reviewing them! If you have any questions, send me an email at brainxpproject@gmail.com OR you can send me a DM on Instagram @brainxpproject ! (You can always choose to remain anonymous if your art piece does get posted.)
