August Luncheon "Holding Space for Our Humanity"
(L-R): Ashley Embry, Miles Adcox, Kasey Cleckler and Jackie Jones
SOURCE Nashville hosted the lunchtime panel discussion “Holding Space for Our Humanity — Balancing Work, Life, and Wellbeing” on Aug. 27. The members-only event featured Jackie Jones, RIAA /co-founder of Family Alliance Music (FAM); Kasey Cleckler, executive performance coach/founder of Cape and Anchor; and Miles Adcox, a prominent mental health expert from Onsite Workshops. SOURCE Nashville board member Ashley Embry (Hearts Bluff Music) moderated the important and timely discussion.
Panelists touched on stigmas around mental healthcare, which can get in the way of much-needed treatment. Mental health maintenance should be addressed with preventative measures, in the same way that people traditionally care for their physical health, they advised.
"Mental health is not what's wrong with you," Miles stressed. "What if it's what's right with us? That we would pursue being a better version of who we are, who we're becoming, and that we would optimize our lives and our relationships and our vocation and try to usher more meaning and value into our lives. That's mental health."
Emotional wellness can take a backseat for a number of reasons. People may feel they lack permission due to professional success. Many wait to address challenges until the problem becomes an overwhelming crisis. Instead, the experts recommended adopting small changes along the way. This might include finding new hobbies, because music has shifted from enjoyable pastime to a full-time career. They agreed on the benefits of play and making it a priority.
"Find something outside of music, that's not connected to any production, or any place of accomplishment," Kasey suggested.
In a culture that rewards hustle, and often round-the-clock commitment, employees may feel guilty for taking paid time off, even though they’ve earned it. There may be a fear of being replaced. Leaders can normalize vacation and PTO by using it themselves, and setting a tone for the culture of the workplace.
"Be a leader that exemplifies it, and tells people it's okay," Jacke said about using PTO.
The group talked about challenges that are unique to the entertainment business, such as life on the road followed by the transition to coming home. They also discussed universal human struggles, like infertility, parenting, and elder care, which may be overlooked because they are commonplace. Many people feel isolated in their struggles, but find relief when they realize their experiences are shared by others. FAM supports caregivers throughout the music industry with community and financial resources.
The panelists noted the importance of clear communication and prioritizing repairing relationships quickly, rather than dwelling on disagreements. They agreed that prioritizing emotional wellness leads to better and more sustainable careers for all players on a team.
"No one wins at the suffering Olympics," Ashley concluded.
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