Meet Alexandra Meredith | Writer, and Mental Health Advocate

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

Hi Alexandra, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
The definition of “Risk” in simple terms is the possibility of something bad happening. I disagree. When I think about “risk”, I hear the words “Possibility”, “Opportunity”, and “Warrior”.

I was a 17 year old, who graduated high school with multiple college declines, I took a year off and worked in the hospitality industry as a Hostess. I took a risk by applying to FIDM, and moving all by myself to Los Angeles by 18 years old.

Taking risks is the only way I have become successful, but you have to have the right heart to do it. It cannot be done in vain. Thinking about taking a risk is predicting trouble. If your heart is trouble you ARE the trouble.

You need to become someone who never has idle hands. I keep moving at all times. Worrying steals my peace. Worry & fear are the greatest enemies of our peace. If you want to take a risk, you need to first be at peace. If you’re not at peace you cannot take risks if your own soul is at war. The greatest battle we will ever fight is a war within ourselves.

I have been fortunate enough to have incredible work opportunities with DISNEY and WWE, acted in music videos, worked huge award shows like the Grammy’s, and The Oscar’s BECAUSE I took a risk and moved. Of course there were many failures along my journey.

Failure drives me to find more strength. It is not all just physical strength it’s mental strength. There may be a war inside your soul. You need to master your emotions before they take master over you.

Self-Control is my strength. Calmness is my power. I love the song “Out of the Woods” (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift. She describes wanting to be “out of the woods” in a metaphoric way of wanting to be done with a battle. I love her so much, as her music has inspired me to take risks as Taylor Swift is the largest risk taker in the world.

Becoming the warrior I am today I have learned I am never really “out of the woods”. I am always going to be fighting for something. We all are, but it’s the way we get back on our feet and how we turn it around that really counts.

The difference between an opportunity and an obstacle is your attitude. Your faith in yourself has to be greater than your fear.

I’ve taught myself how to endure hardships, and to develop an endurance. I do this by self reflecting, seeking council, and surrounding myself around people who bring out the best in me. Learning my biggest weakness is how I conquer it. My biggest weakness is taking things too personally, which turns into a dark feeling of despair. But when you’re filled with despair, you lose the capacity to see the beauty around you. Nothing will ever get OUT of you, what ever you don’t let first get IN you.

I am a warrior every day and I choose to be when I wake up, no matter what is coming. I’ve become a mentally strong fighter. And what makes a good fighter is not about “giving” a punch, it’s how to TAKE a punch.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art can be defined in various ways. I never stop learning something new. From graphic design, to photography, to writing poetry or sharing my own story.

It started from making a necklace out of a tag I found in my moms trash can at 6 years old. When I was in Elementary School, I started writing poetry in my diary. In 2006, the Walt Disney movie, “Cars” was coming out in theaters. They had a national writing contest for kids to write about what kind of car they would be if they were a car. I wrote about being a multi-color changing convertible according to my mood. A few weeks later, my parents received the newspaper and my story won, was on the cover of the Charlotte, North Carolina paper. I got to attend the “Cars” movie premiere and walk the red carpet alongside Owen Wilson, and Larry the Cable Guy.

I’ve always prided myself as someone who is multi-talented and I try to use that today in my professional life. I am both a writer as well as a Plastic Surgeon’s assistant. My talent for writing and creativity gets used into helping my boss, myself, and other companies with social media marketing, writing a clever caption, or promoting a products for companies that have the same values and interests as I do. It’s not easy. I am currently writing all of this on my lunch break at my plastic surgery job in Beverly Hills.

To the world, I want to always be known as both kind and genuine. It feeds my soul to be kind to others. I stay in therapy to work through hardships because if you’re not in a good head space, how can you fully show up for anybody else?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a Millennial but As Gen-Z would say, “Don’t ‘gate keep'”.

If you’re ever in the city, drive to Point Dume Nature Preserve, in Malibu. It is my favorite spot where I find solace in the chaos of Los Angeles. Point Dume is my little heaven on earth. The views, the hiking, and wildlife all in one spot is unbeatable.

I am not a big “basic LA” kind of girl when it comes to food and drinks. There’s some amazing spots for sure for aesthetic purposes, but for drink and a good time I will be taking you to Mr. Furly’s bar. It is my favorite dive bar, and the staff always makes you feel welcome. Adam Fleck is one of the bartenders at Mr. Furly’s on 3rd street in Los Angeles and he has become one of my closest friends. I love places that make you feel like home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Erwin Raphael McManus and Aaron C. McManus for their impactful “Battle Ready Podcast”. Erwin, an esteemed author, pastor, and speaker, alongside Aaron, initiated the “Battle Ready” series at Mosaic Church. This project blossomed into a book and later a podcast that has inspired countless individuals, including myself.

Their work has ignited my passion for writing and encouraged me to embrace risks in my own life. For this invaluable inspiration, I am eternally grateful to them.

Website: https://www.alexandrameredith.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmeredith_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-meredith-077196107

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexmeredith13/?_rdr

Image Credits
Photos by Jonathan Moore & Nick Berardi
IG @headshotsbyjmo
IG @nickberardi