FROM THE HEART Studios

When we think of Marriage, we think of the happy ending or the start of a new journey in a couples' life, but what some people don't know is that sometimes, it isn't as idealized as we perceive it to be. To what extent will we fight for what or who we love? Will we put down everything on the line in order to get what we desire? Paul explains the odds that were stacked against him as he fought for the love of his life. It wasn't a fight to keep his marriage, but a fight to finally get to marry the love of his life. You can connect with Paul Kim and his brand through Instagram and Facebook @_p.kim and @operationdichotomy and with at @FromtheHeart.Studios on Instagram.

Since growing up, we've all had the tendency to listen to our parents, teachers, elders, etc. But who says that what they say is the only truth for us to follow? Life isn't a straight path, but it's a combination of different paths that only we can unfold. We need to be more confident in our own actions even when it may not make sense to others. Trust the process and know that not everyone will be on board with the pursuit of your own dreams. 

Society has created a lot of norms of things that simply were not "meant to be". People will cast doubts upon us for having ideas that seem revolutionary because the idea seems unfathomable to them. So, how do we change this mindset? It all starts with us... with you. As cliche as it sounds, for your dreams to come true, you must work to make it a reality. No one will feed your dreams on a silver platter and to be quite frank, it will most likely never look pleasing in any way. However, this is what comes with envisioning a change, a revolution, within our communities and ultimately the world. Be the change you'd like to see and then the world will follow.

At one point or another, many of us were given a label that was used to define us by other people. These notions were created based on our various attributes such as our appearances, actions, speeches, thinking, etc. and it has created more harm than good the majority of the time. So how can we combat this issue of prejudice placed on everyday people like us? By being aware that every person has a story that has shaped and molded that person is today. Melissa Shrestha shares her experience growing up with a mixed ethnic background. The struggles that she faced were countless and thus made it difficult to truly discover who she was an individual back then. Today, she advocates people expressing their different personalities, backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures through many groups that she organizes.

We oftentimes get overwhelmed when situations don't go our way. We like to have a structured plan because it makes us feel in control of our situation and our results. But unfortunately, life isn't like that. There are many bumps in the road that require us to be innovative to move around them. If we fail to maneuver around these setbacks, we won't be able to progress further. So when you are faced with an inevitable setback, will you be able to think of how you can overcome that situation to benefit you?

Many people struggle to understand how to truly empathize with another person.  It’s in our innate nature to give a solution to someone's issue(s). Sometimes, we can have the best words of advice to help one another. Other times, we encounter situations in which we won't have a clue as to what to say. BUT in those moments, it's okay to just sit in silence and to listen to someone as they go through a rough patch in m his/her life. When someone just wants someone to just listen, that in itself can be the best solution you can offer to someone... to empathize with them.

Having the idea to improve or setting a goal is the first step. But in a day in today’s society, it’s easy to lose ourselves with the idea of instant gratification and having things in the snap of our fingers. While that may be true, there are many aspects that make this realistically unattainable in an instant with our goals. Even with a few months, that may still may not be enough to fully let our ambitions manifest into the results we perceive. So are you able to tell yourself to fight the war and not just the battle? Will your grit and perseverance be enough to serve you in the long run?

Harry Garcia is currently a university student who resides in Puerto Rico. He was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work in the United States. To his surprise, his experience was more than just an experience in the workforce. Although Puerto Rico is considered US soil, it came as a big culture shock for Harry as he learns about the dos and don'ts in American culture that differ from his own homeland. (For those of you who would like more information about the Huellas de Tambor club that is run in UPRM, the link to their Facebook group is listed below) https://www.facebook.com/huellasdetambor802/

Zeki Kural gives us a glimpse of his accomplishments that has helped him to not only feel more confident in his capabilities but also to seek greater fulfillment in other goals. More specifically, he talks about his experience with running a Spartan Race, a race that tests one's ability to run a certain distance while overcoming obstacles. With only a weeks advanced reminder to prepare, he knew that running the race would be exhausting, but regardless he made a commitment. This promise wasn't only to those who accompanied him, but especially to himself. In the grand scheme of things, taking action to complete a goal regardless of failure is more important than not attempting to at the very least try.

Brian explains his experience with gaming. At first, his content was nothing more than a archive to share his favorite clips and memories. But over time, he learns that money isn’t what should drive him to continue his hobby, but rather his enjoyment and passion for gaming. This is what pushes him to continue creating content for himself and his followers. Is passion what drives you, your hobbies, and especially your goals?

Harry Perez explains what life was like living in one of the more dangerous areas of the New York. Sex, drugs, violence... all things that were easily accessible to him at a young age, he immersed himself in that lifestyle until two realizations had opened his eyes. If you were at a fork in the road, which path would you take?

Society clouds the experiences of hardships and brings the misconception that these issues are nothing more than a hindrance, thus people have become less inclined to tell their stories of hardship. So, the new purpose of the podcast is to create a space where featured guests can openly talk about their issues that have ultimately shaped who they have become today. This is to create empathy by helping others understand various struggles and to make these stories relatable for those who are also going through those tough times. So as a community, let's help others to make this world a little less lonely one story at a time.

The idea of happiness seems to be a forgotten concept to many and more are aimlessly looking to obtain more fulfilling lifestyle. The reality in society is that many people are not willing to work for the things that makes them happy. Whether those things may be wealth, one’s wellness, helping others, etc. there is not one thing that will satisfy one person as it would for another. We have become so complacent with the idea of instant gratification that many of us have forgotten that some things will take time. Whatever the case may be, there is a clear difference between people who are happier than others and that is the fact that those who are happier are the people who will put in the effort for what matters the most to them.

Society downplays the notion that failure is acceptable. To a certain extent that is true, but because of this notion, people fear the supposed consequences of failure. We don't take the initial step forward to accomplish a goal because of these repercussions we've created in our heads that cloud our judgement. But what isn't shown enough of all these celebrities and successful people is that they've all started from rock bottom with no direction, no initial plan, no support. They all started from the somewhere and we never get a glimpse of the struggles it takes to reach a goal. So push yourself, there is no true success story without hardship in it.

People will strongly disagree with what you believe is the flat out truth. As frustrating as it can be, people will not always be accepting of criticism and advice because it may force them to perceive situations or experiences that are not “normal”. People will get offended by the truth because society has trained their brains to limit their thinking capabilities,even if they may not realize it. Having expectations for those around you is okay, but everyone learns at their own pace and all you can do is to be a living example of your own beliefs to prove that point.

After watching the film “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Marielle Heller, Elijah speaks about the importance of expressing your emotions. Neither is it healthy to bottle up emotions or to exerting them in harmful ways to both you or the people around you. Especially in today’s society, expressing one’s emotions is seen as a weakness. So, it’s time to change that misconception by thoroughly address one’s own emotions through other alternatives or verbally expressing them to others in healthy ways.

Depression is a resurfacing issue all over the world. The source of depression can come from a multitude of feelings like being trapped, having a lack of passion, going through a directionless path, etc. Whatever the circumstances are, there are always resources to help people understand why they may have dark thoughts on an extreme level. Don't feel like you are alone, you have people who will love and support you through these tough times. As long as you take the initiative to find the help you need, there will always be a light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Elijah explains how all these relative objects and concepts (money, power, fame, etc.) will never amount to what is truly the most important asset that anyone can invest into someone, something or yourself. The reason is because all those things listed and many more are all the result of TIME. Time is an intangible concept that once invested into a passion or person, it can never be taken back. Time will constantly move forward without any hesitation and will never pause for us to play catch up. So what will you do with the indeterminable amount of time that you have been given to turn your dreams into a reality? 

Elijah talks about his own story of what has lead him to creating the podcast through his experience of transitioning into the person he is today. he further explains how people should constantly be looking to fulfill their own wants by following their own dreams. Everyone has a dream, but who is willing to create those opportunities and further capitalize on them to make that dream a reality? We are ultimately the only ones to decide who calls the shots, but who of those individuals will actually execute on them?