Author: Christina Bruni

Christina Bruni is the author of the new book Working Assets: A Career Guide for Peers. She contributed a chapter "Recovery is Within Reach" to Benessere Psicologico: Contemporary Thought on Italian American Mental Health.

Case Study: Ashley Smith Part Three

Case Study: Ashley Smith Part Three

Give us ideas on how to cope with setbacks and bounce back. It couldn’t have been all sunshine for you every day. How can we survive the rainfall to see the rainbow?

When I was diagnosed, my doctor recommended two pieces of advice: 1) control my stress and 2) take my medication. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with doctors and therapists to uphold effective treatment plans. In addition to working with my health team I’ve developed self-care rituals to help me stay accountable to my wellness demands.

I encourage you to consider counseling and practicing a wide range of those stress reduction techniques that works for you to minimize daily stressors. For instance, exercising, getting enough rest, journaling, talking to someone, listening to inspiring talks, meditation, taking care of a pet, and working on personal hobbies and projects.

To overcome my bad days I take a moment to reflect on my issues then practice healthy coping tools to reset and restore my energy. This helps a lot and demands commitment. Sometimes after I’ve utilized a lot of coping skills I still can’t manage. Then I go back to my treatment team to tweak my medication regimen in order to get back on track. This might not work on the first attempt, but I’ve kept at it and right now I can say I’m in a good mental space.

Also, self-awareness and self-care routines are essential to mastering recovery. When you can identify your triggers and warning signs you can better equip yourself and loved ones on how to best support you on bad days. Developing plans that help restore better days by examining what works for you to recover from medical setbacks. I hope you will continue to use your coping strategies even when you’re feeling well. Recovery is a lifestyle.

I’d like to end here by having you give followers a favorite positive affirmation.

“We can. We will. We must.” – Eric Thomas

Then tell us how they can buy your new and other books and read your blog.

After self-publishing seven books, I wrote: In Her Own Ink an author’s guide to achieving a well-crafted manuscript. After publishing my first blog book, What’s On My Mind? A Collection of Blog Entries from Overcoming Schizophrenia, Foreword by Christina Bruni (2014) a few people approached me with their book projects. Ever since then I’ve facilitated writing workshops.

What distinguishes this creative workbook, In Her Own Ink is I’ve interviewed five authors who share their writing secrets at developing books. The objectives of In Her Own Ink are to help writers minimize the many challenges to creating, organize manuscripts, structure their chapters and keep readers hooked with our quality material.

I offer tips on creative ways to engage readers and to enrich the book development process with a friendly approach to creating your rough drafts. I encourage you to purchase In Her Own Ink. Take the leap to thrive in 2025 with your book design. In 2025, I started In Her Own Ink Publishing to resume my book coaching classes. Here are some ways to stay connected:

Case Study: Ashley Smith Part Two

Case Study: Ashley Smith Part Two

Do you think peers can succeed as Entrepreneurs with their own businesses and why?

I believe everybody can manage their own businesses and be successful at it including my peers in recovery. Managing our own businesses will help us juggle wellness and work schedules better. Also, because we are capable and competent to enhance work performance. It’s better to work harder for ourselves making money based on something we love, are skilled at and can manifest.

Currently, I’m working as an independent contractor and peer counselor (certified peer specialist). I work with individuals who have a diagnosis and encourage them to tackle health and personal goals. I’m able to create my own work routine and avoid being micro-managed.

In fact, I start my day with self-care practices. I get ready, worship and listen to motivational speakers to boost my energy. I dive into my work in the afternoon. Then rest. Return to work for a couple of more hours in the evening. Afterwards, I shut down my workday and regroup in order to do it again the next day. Having control over my time throughout the day allows me to incorporate self-care and aim to find a balance between work and personal plans.

As entrepreneurs we can properly dictate our work schedules, recovery and lives. Working helps build skills which can boost self-confidence. Peers would be successful at entrepreneurship because we will master a skill that we created and control the work day. Permitting time to include wellness habits. That way we can maintain our wellbeing and strive for ongoing success.

What specific habits and skills should a peer utilize to earn an income on their own?

To be a great entrepreneur we must uphold a strong mindset. Valuing determination, self-motivation and have a thick skin. We must be able to accept “no” and keep going despite setbacks. Therefore, we must master the skill of resiliency.

Being self-aware and holding a wellness routine helps me press forward through my work days. Specifically, I use various productivity tools. I keep an agenda and organize my thoughts early on in the day.

I manage my wellbeing and work progress by keeping a “realistic journal.” Aside from the typical Things to Do List. In the realistic journal I record accomplished tasks. Opposed to be overwhelmed by my long Things to Do List. The realistic journal motivates me to keep striving to complete duties. It’s a confidence-booster. Also, a record that we can refer back to. I might note I’ve responded to certain emails, printed documents in preparation for review and took a walk – those activities among others helps me stay productive, focused and well.

I’ve coined the term that you can Be Your Own Boss even if you work for another company not your own. What can you tell peers from your own experience as a paid Peer Specialist about how to survive and protect your mental and physical health when you work for and with others?

Finding balance between wellness demands and work is still something I’m working on. However, I’ve improved at it over time, and you can too. Here are some tips you might consider practicing in the workplace.

Sometimes I take a quick walk to transition from one task to another. In the past, I’ve done that in the parking lot of my employer. Other times I’ve journaled. Get to work a little earlier and journal prior to the start of your work shift. That way we can regain clarity to proceed with different assignments. Also, I’ve had office accountability partners. Checking in with them helps because it can be therapeutic for oneself to reflect on emotional concerns and daily wellness goals.

Identifying stressors before they become significant obstacles is key to overcoming daily challenges. Knowing when to pause, take a moment to digest your day and reset can increase productivity. You can reset within a small amount of time. For example, taking a brisk 10 minute walk on your break, journaling before starting work or on lunch. Sitting in meditation or prayer at your desk for a moment at work can help reset and recharge energy and focus. Develop self-motivation skills. I do this with affirmations and listening to motivational speakers daily. By taking care of our needs throughout the day we can be more efficient at work and feel good about it.

Case Study: Ashley Smith

Case Study: Ashley Smith

Altruistic and Ambitious Advocate

In this blog I’m going to feature Case Studies of peers living in recovery who are role models for forging our own path in life and succeeding at a career. Our first Case Study will be in 3 parts to cover the full story.

In 2008  Author Advocate Ashley Smith started her anonymous Overcoming Schizophrenia blog. Since then she’s used her real name to blog and publish 7 books. I met her at a film screening for a video on recovery that she was featured in.

Ashley studied business in college before her breakdown. Altruistic while ambitious she’s not afraid to share her story to give peers a shot of confidence to pursue our own goals unabashedly.

I’m taken in by her choice of the purple outfit for the cover of her new book. Purple is a color that symbolizes royalty and spirituality. How fitting for a peer whose devotion to Spirit and using affirmations has helped her get ahead.

Part One:

It’s been 17 years since you first clicked publish on your first blog entry. What exactly enabled you not to quit and keep going?

My blog, Overcoming Schizophrenia, started as an online diary about my diagnosis and to recall my experiences as an advocate. Now I blog for others wholeheartedly. I aim to be a beacon of hope and offer a sense of direction and motivation to keep pressing onward.

However, it’s hard to be consistent with blogging for me but I’ve challenged myself this year (2025) to write one blog article each week. I want to continue the conversation on ways to trump the stigma of mental illness. Further assisting peers and caregivers on their paths to wellness. I’ve grown a lot in my recovery and want to share my life story. Leading others to understand and believe that a fulfilling life in recovery is possible.

What can you tell peers who have a dream or goal of their own just starting out?

Recovery is a lifestyle and your goals are attainable. Remember to take small steps until you gain momentum and are comfortable increasing your progress. Aim to develop a routine to maintain balance between self-care and your responsibilities. Self-care is essential to managing ourselves. To be our best and well to tackle work and goals full force.

Talk about the role that support plays in our lives—either through our family, friends, treatment providers, or a chosen family or others we interact with.

Having a support system is vital to staying committed to my wellbeing. My family plays significant role in my wellness. They’ve been my foundation of strength. They keep me accountable and give me the support I need to keep pressing forward.

I’ve worked with the same treatment team; my doctor for over 12 years and my therapist for over eight years. They understand my needs and are dependable during crisis.

I have a lot of peer support too. Participating in organizations such as NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and the CURESZ Foundation. NAMI allows me to partake in different leadership roles. I’ve facilitated workshops and support groups.

I encourage you to get involved in a group that you can grow with. A place outside of the home but feels like home. This type of support is challenging to find but consider your church, 12 step support groups, local NAMI affiliate, and organizations where you might volunteer to gain assistance and someone to confide in. Everybody needs support to survive and thrive in life.

Presence and Persona

I attended a Zoom talk on Presence and Persona: Leveling Up Your Personal Brand.

I cannot repeat the exact method the speaker Christina Bryan told us to use. It is her approach.

Instead I recommend you go on her website The Roadmap Coach. She is a Black businesswoman who coaches other women. I intend to pay for her coaching service in the future. As after listening to her talk I got fired up.

In my own words here I’ll tell you about how to create be and sell your personal brand for everyone of any identity. It’s simple really: who you are and what you stand for is your brand on and off the job.

Like Bryan said: “Be authentic.”

It’s imperative to “stay in your lane” and avoid going “off-brand.”

This is why I’ve pivoted on a dime to not talk about politics in my blogs again. It would detract from and dilute my message. As I think each of us has what I’ve coined the “self-power” to go after our goals regardless of the political climate.

In a coming blog entry I’ll talk about my views on capitalism. Here I’ll tell followers that you should not have to act false to yourself anywhere you go to promote your brand.

Zoom speaker Bryan told us women to: “Be your authentic self. Let you come through.”

I think Christina Bryan’s method for personal branding is better than the 5-step plan I read in a book that I might have reviewed here years ago.

Promoting yourself might not come easy. Which is why I think it pays to read what I wrote in the recent blog entries here.

You can be driven AND decent. You don’t have to be “relentless in pursuit of your goals.” If you’re tightly wound that will cause ill health.

In a future blog entry I’ll talk about setting goals.

Selling Ourselves

In an instant two years ago the thought hit me that every interaction you have with another person involves sales. I can’t shake this idea even today.

Though I’ve read a book on creating and using your personal brand I think having a Personal Brand should be linked to who you are. No presenting a false self. Bringing your beautiful self to the table.

From how I interact with the others in the online fashion group I’ve figured out that you don’t need hundreds of clothing items stuffed in drawers and closets.

Nailing your presence and persona is as simple as choosing with care what you wear. Plus it hinges on not being afraid to voice what you think.

Your ideas count in a meeting at work. You shouldn’t be talked over or scared to speak out either.

I recommend having a friend shoot photos of you to insert in a “look book”–a photo album to review. Or they or you can use your cell phone to create an Outfits Photo Album.

One thing I recommend too is getting your colors done with a reputable person. I’ve known since attending a Colors Workshop in 1993 that I’m a Winter. This is because I have a pink undertone to my skin/a cool complexion, dark brown eyes, and black hair.

One way to get your colors analyzed is with Anuschka Rees and her Color Guide. For women to find out about the fashion community and other services go on Dressing Well. Men can also use the Dressing Well Virtual Styling program. There is a fee for the Virtual Styling. Not cheap yet cheaper than other personal styling offerings.

It should come as a relief that once you figure out winning outfit combinations you’ll have an easier time getting dressed in the morning. Repeating these outfits is OK. Definitely OK.

You can buy on Amazon the Greatim wall-mounted valet a clothing rack. It swings out to hold clothing items on hangers on 5 cut-out circles. The night before I hang on the rod the outfit I want to wear in the morning. I’ve even typed up a list of outfit combinations for each of the four seasons. Inserted them on a clipboard to check off the items I wear every day.

Again this is not to upset followers. It’s to make it quicker and easier to get dressed when you wake up. Giving you the best start to the day.

The purpose in polishing your Initial Persona Offering is precisely to give us ease in interacting not just with coworkers. To have a better time of it with all our relationships. If you’re not socially savvy to begin with this is exactly why dressing well can help give you confidence. It’s a cliche because it’s true that when you look good you feel good

I recommend followers buy my book Working Assets: A Career Guide for Peers where I talk in detail about finding and succeeding at a job.

Coming up I’m going to feature a Case Study of a peer who is successful in business. Then talk about applying for and getting a job this year.

Sartorial Self-Care for Peers

I studied the life work of Caroline Myss a medical intuitive. Her concept of Archetypes is right-on. Studying this I found out that I have a Fashionista archetype. There is such a thing!

Everything clicked into place after I bought and read the book Wear It Well by Allison Bornstein. Using the personal stylist’s Three Word Method I defined my style as Chic Quirky Confident.

Choosing and using wardrobe items for everyone not just women is a form of self-care. When dressing up gives a person joy they should not be ridiculed for their love of fashion.

This kind of self-care for us peers can help us feel good interacting with others. Dressing well can give us ease in our relationships. Years ago I met a peer who told me that this is why they dressed to appear normal when going outside. Precisely because your appearance is judged.

I joined a private online fashion community a year ago. Women post photos of outfits we’re dressed in to request feedback. I’ve figured out winning outfit combinations this way.

Everyone is positive. There’s a $25/monthly fee. This keeps out the trolls and anonymous hateful comments.

Polishing your presence is just a book or click away then. I completed a 5-outfit challenge for January by creating 5 new outfits out of clothes I already own.

“Shopping in your closet” is the way to go. Plus it’s OK to repeat outfits. Particularly when the outfits are “winners.”

Once you’ve fashioned this wardrobe it’s easier to choose and use clothing items each day. Think in terms of how you want to come across.

By automating your outfit choices you’ll have extra time in the morning. Start the day with an edge once you’re going out your front door.

Coming up a blog carnival of related topics beginning with my approach to dressing. Then a deep dive into what I’ve learned after viewing the webinar on Presence and Persona for women.

After this a focus on conducting a job search effectively linked to my recent experience helping out peers get jobs. Lastly a review of what I’ll call a “case study” in succeeding in business as a peer.

Making an IPO

I’ve invented an approach to getting a favorable outcome in the workforce. It shouldn’t upset followers that I propose this. This is because allegedly a person forms an impression of you within 7 seconds.

All along I’ve had ideas about how to dress. I’m 59. No longer do I care what others think of me. Nor do I have any interest in trying to impress people who would hate judge fear or shame me.

In my Girl on the Left blog I wrote that I think if you’re dressed chic you can get away with being a radical on the inside.

A few years ago too I thought that everyone is a work of art. We can delight the viewer. Yet even with a work of art whether the viewer likes us is subjective for each person looking at the artwork.

I’ve coined the term Making Your IPO–your Initial Persona Offering. I think every interaction you have with another person involves sales.

To get them to buy into whatever you’re selling–either you; an idea you have at work; a belief you hold–each of us should demonstrate why they should buy in and the benefit in doing this.

The second thing is to give them equity like “stock options” that are ownership in the company whose product you’re selling. A person has to want to do what you say. Again attacking your target market that you want to convert will cause those people to resist and get defensive.

The idea of making your IPO upends the idea of creating a Personal Brand. I think too that the best personal brand is a reflection of who you are and what you stand for. It’s as simple as that.

We should make our Initial Persona that we offer others our own beautiful self. Acting true to yourself is the best way to sell your own unique brand. Jazzing up our appearance is not vain or calculating. It’s a way to level up your presence. Which in the end feels good to you. Not just to the viewer.

The real thing when you’re just starting out in recovery is that the hair could be uncombed. The shoes are scuffed.

Or like I did I wore regular sized clothing when I was a Petite size. So the blazer was as big as my Grandpa’s and the sleeves were too long too.

Even with all its scandals Nike is a brand to research for understanding how it generates fierce fans of its products. Read the book which I might have reviewed in here: Emotion by Design by Greg Hoffman who worked at Nike for decades.

In the next blog entry I will talk about things I’m doing to polish my persona. It’s not bulletproof that everyone will always buy into what you’re selling. Yet like I said in that other blog dressing well helped me recover. That’s the real impact of leveraging how you look: You take joy in getting up in the morning and going out the front door.

Getting a Job in 2025

My recent blogs posts I think were too graphic.

I’ve taken off the last 3 blog entries I posted here. My original intent in posting them was that I wanted to speak out about the current injustice. Sadly it’s too far gone in what’s going on. A friend and I were talking about this turn of events.

Here’s the real deal: If you want to understand the root of income inequality in America read the book Fulfillment: Winning and Losing in One-Click America. It exposes what happens when Amazon sets up warehouses and distribution centers in rural areas in the U.S.

Read books. End of story. Read current nonfiction to become aware of what’s going on. The one thing I will revive in this blog entry is what I did write in one of the deleted missives: Americans hating fearing judging and shaming each other has to STOP.

This is what’s gotten out of hand: that some of us–too many of us–use skin color alone to assess a person’s competence or character.

Too like I said I’m not a fan of either side of the government. I dislike Liberals the same way I detest Conservatives.

I’m going to post blog entries coming up about how to get a job in 2025 in the current political climate. I will write about this in a measured and considered way instead.

The friend I talked to [and I do too] knows the whole neoliberal economic system in America started in the 1970s. This inequality is nothing new. It’s been around for at least 50 years.

Anyone who knows American history knows that during Jim Crow there were separate water fountains in the South for White and Black Americans. This is as far as I’ll go to resuscitate what I wrote in the deleted blog entries.

As well the last reference I can use is the idea of Merit alone being the reason a person gets a job offer. In a future blog entry I will talk about Merit in more detail. Then give workarounds for competing to get a job when allegedly today Merit will be the only factor.

Setting Boundaries

Setting boundaries is a must for everyone. Having boundaries gives us a sense of control and empowers us in our relationships. Boundaries set clear expectations for the treatment you will and won’t accept.

Be specific about what you expect and the repercussions of crossing the boundary at work and in your personal life.

You can tell the person: “This is not open to talking about.” Or: “I’m available to meet or talk between 1:00am and 3:00pm.”

In the Muse newsletter I’ve always recommend readers subscribe to a recent topic was oversharing at work. It’s wise to set the boundary of what’s an OK conversation to have with coworkers. Really think about what you should talk about and what to keep private.

Even outside of the workplace setting boundaries is a must. Not everyone wants to talk about their personal life. Nor about any history of illness or other disadvantage. This calls for interacting with the other person on their terms not yours.

The fact is that talking about parts of your or their life over and over can be triggering when reliving the details. The future is today. My sincere hope is that each of us can get to the place where we live for today. Instead of dwelling on the past and feeling miserable.

Should our current circumstances not be ideal either it’s OK to refocus and talk about what gives us joy and do things that give us joy. Save the misery for a therapist session.

In my life I don’t talk about illness either. When I give talks on recovery I focus on my radical ideas for living well and whole. Rarely do I talk in detail about the symptoms and illness. I refer audience members to read my memoir Left of the Dial to find out about this.

In a coming blog carnival I’m going to talk about getting ahead in the current political climate.

On Not Playing Small

I’m taking a detour from the blog entry I was going to post coming up.

A faithful friend is gone and I feel the need to honor his memory. He was a peer who brought joy to everyone whose lives he touched.

Riding home in a private car after hearing the news two lines from the famous Marianne Williamson quote streamed into my head over and over: You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.

Might we dare greatly to take up space even when the media darlings, the anti-psychiatry cranks, and countless others hate judge and shame us. What irks them about us is their problem not ours.

Here is the full Williamson quote with the pertinent lines in bold:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

― Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”