Meet Maurniece Gayles | Artist & Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maurniece Gayles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maurniece, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
A healthy work-life balance is something that I’ve always struggled with. I feel like we [humans] are always racing against the clock as if we’re going to miss something but the “something” that we’re really missing is life itself. There have been times when I’d be out with my friends and can’t really enjoy myself because I’d think “I could be doing something productive right now. I’m wasting time.”. It wasn’t until the pandemic forced us all to take a seat that I really reflected on all of the time that I had spent working versus living. There are so many moments that I missed because I wasn’t present and people that I neglected because I was “too busy” to nurture those relationships. While goals, dreams, and careers are important, I had to ask myself “When you’re on your deathbed reflecting on your life, what will you regret? What will be most important during those last moments?”

So these days, I’m working on being present in every moment, which has helped me work toward a healthy work-life balance. There’s a quote, “Wherever you are, be all there”. When I’m at work, I’m at work. When I’m creating, I’m creating. When I’m spending time with my family and friends, I’m all in, not thinking about what needs to be done, not complaining to them about work, not buried in my phone, etc. Not only does practicing this level of presence causes me to be more productive but I’m a lot less stressed with day-to-day responsibilities.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I initially moved to California to pursue acting, which I am still doing; however, somewhere along the way, I fell in love with writing and directing. It’s something so special about creating art that people can identify with – an idea that began with a simple thought, conversation, or dream.

What I am most proud of and excited about is a documentary that I’m currently working on. I was prepared to begin filming in June 2020 before life hit us all hard and, because I’m a very “Go Big or Go Home”, “All or Nothing” person, I couldn’t compromise the art by having participants film via zoom. So now that restrictions are being lifted and the filming location is operating again, I’m focusing on that and I’m extremely excited for the Culture to have this one.

Where I am today is nowhere near where I want to be; I really consider myself to be at the beginning of the journey. Still, I’m only at the beginning because of God and the love and support of my family and friends – that really refuels me when I need it because nothing about this industry is easy lol…

It’s so funny because being an aspiring anything in this industry means taking so many L’s but if you look on Instagram it’ll seem like you’re constantly winning. Outside of the past year that we all spent trying to survive, I probably average about 8-10 auditions per week. I’ve lived here for almost 4 years. That’s over 1000 rejections (and that’s being modest). Being booked for a job then dropped because they decided to cast someone else, acting in numerous projects that have never seen the light of day, turning down jobs because the content doesn’t align with personal morals, etc. The journey hasn’t been easy but overcoming all of the rejection, after a while, is surprisingly a piece of cake. As weird as it sounds, constant rejection creates space for freedom and builds confidence. You become detached from the emotional aspect of it so you stop thinking “omg, they didn’t like me” and you transition to “that was good practice but that wasn’t meant to be mine”.

The two most important lessons that I have learned along the way are “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch” and “Enjoy the journey”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Visit – Hollywood Blvd, Melrose Ave, Staples Center, The Grove, Nipsey Memorial, Kobe & Gigi Memorial, The Dunes apartment building, and the house where “Friday” was filmed.

Activities – Hiking at Griffith Park, Set & Flow Yoga Studio for hot yoga/pilates, Descanso Gardens, Bike riding at Santa Monica/Venice Beach, Shopping, Drive-in or Rooftop Movie, Road trip to San Diego, and Road trip to Mexico.

Dining/Drinks – My 2 Cents, Sweet Chick, Lettuce Feast Food Truck, Bossa Nova Brazilian Cuisine, KITH [for ice cream], Yardbird, Tart [for brunch & drinks], Gracias Madre, SunCafe, Tocaya Organica, and Eggslut.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Whew… that’s a long list but here we go, lol! Honestly, I attribute all my confidence and tenacity related to moving to California and pursuing my goals to the love and support of my family and friends… and God of course. My parents are the most supportive people I have ever known and simply knowing that they will catch me if I fall has given me the confidence to do anything.

My friends Shanise, Alexis, Passion, Akilah, Tristan, Alishia, Rachael, Nicole, and Dennis are literal gems. They’re just always there; they always show up with their encouragement, support, and love. I am also a part of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. which has provided me with another support system in my line sisters. They are amazing women!

When I first moved to California, I was here alone for almost a full year. It was rough in so many ways. Before I reached my one-year milestone though, two of my closest friends since High School, Jermaine and Mo, moved here to pursue their music dream. Through them I’ve met two other friends, Brandon and Travon, and just knowing that all of them are here is more comforting to me than they even know. Whether we hang out once a week or once a month, it’s like having a piece of home in a foreign place so I know that if I ever need anything, they’re a short drive away. And when it comes to helping me create something, I can count on them so I genuinely appreciate that.

These are my people… lol

As far as books, the book that literally carried me through January is “The Book of Joy”. It’s a conversation between the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu centered around cultivating joy in our everyday lives. This year has already presented me with so many surprises to navigate through and this book has helped tremendously with keeping me grounded, compassionate, and grateful through it all.

Instagram: @maurnieceee