Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik De La Cruz.
Hi Erik, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story is one of resilience and curiosity. I never thought of myself as normal, I thrived in standing out from the group. I felt different growing up; as if I was viewing the world through a different lens than most, mostly because I questioned it. Naturally, you receive backlash and interrogation for being someone who questions authority or the structures in place. I persisted out of genuine curiosity of “what if?” or trying to understand the other side of what I thought I knew. I’ve stood out from those around me by challenging preconceived notions in society or my thoughts that I believed were true. Once you stand out from the group, you’re special and people either gravitate to you or hate you; some people don’t even inherently know why.
My ability to question and learn has made me who I am today. By learning so much, I’m clever, funny, and bring depth to the conversation. By questioning so much, I’m outcasted, smeared, and looked at as an enemy of ideologies that are socially accepted. When you question the status quo, you’re looked at as someone who can’t be controlled. When you can’t be controlled, you’re free.
My ability to be mentally free from the rules has given me the luxury to create my reality.
I studied entrepreneurship. I was never “formally” taught to be a writer… yet I’m a three-time best-selling poet. When you exist outside of the (mental) paradigms is when you can truly shine.
What got me where I am today is my ability to see beyond the limitations placed on me by my own mind, society, media, and even community. True expression can only be had when you don’t filter yourself for anyone.
I started with an idea. I had a dream to be an author but more importantly, I want to be a multidisciplinary artist that pushes boundaries. I want to be able to cross genres and art forms with ease. I am going to be more than a poet and writer.
That will be a story worth following and watch me as I write it in real time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been far from smooth, filled with potholes that rattle your soul when you drive through them.
One of my biggest struggles has been my procrastination and laziness. I’ve achieved so much despite it due to my mental fortitude but it has restrained me so much. Perhaps even kept me from achieving more than where I am at this moment. I’ve struggled with depression because of it or the depression is what caused it, it’s hard to say. The comfort of a bed was often more tempting than attempting to achieve anything. My bed became a comfort zone, a safe haven, where there was no chance of failing. The dreams I had from my bed were easily achievable with my eyes closed. The ones outside required more out of me and for so long I allowed myself to bask in that comfortability.
Writing requires more than most people realize, it’s a process of beating your own mind and overcoming analysis paralysis. It is a strenuous and often unrewarding process that chains you a piece of paper or a screen of pixels. But, I wouldn’t trade it for the world, I was gifted this ability and it’s the only time I ever truly feel alive. When I reach a flow, I can be writing for hours before I even realize how much time has passed. The bliss is euphoric when all the ideas come together beautifully. But the limbo within writing can be mentally excruciating to the point of chaos. One of which, many writers don’t survive and there have been many times I almost didn’t see the light. Writing books comes with so many unforeseen circumstances that make you feel helpless and lost. I have been able to overcome the struggles, maintain a thought-provoking blog, and publish three books against all odds.
In the pursuit of greatness, you’re often faced with a lot of resistance whether it is from yourself, from the people around you, or the masses. When you write and speak the truth sometimes you’re faced with backlash because people don’t like (self) reflections. My ability to be an artist, who not only pushes boundaries in writing but also envelops themselves in a form of method acting, or in this case, method writing… has caused a lot of turmoil in a lot of my relationships. When you’re trying to achieve your dreams while letting other people you love(d) down is agonizing and most cannot overcome it. Whether it’s your lack of care for your own (mental) health, your ideas offend them, or they disagree with your artistic methods. It can be unbearable to lose people you thought were your friends (and family) over your expression of self and being authentic in your catharsis.
Money struggles, losing everything… various times. But I’m still alive, I’m still here, and I’m succeeding by still crafting art with an understanding that this is destined for me which is why I’m faced with struggle. Until the struggle dissipates and it all comes seamlessly.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in putting words and ideas together that make people feel and think. I’ve devoted the last twelve years to writing from starting a blog, to doing music reviews, articles, and poetry. During the previous nine years, I threw myself into a poetic world. When I finally raised myself to the surface, I could gift the world three books. An unexpected trilogy that became one of the most profound poetry collections of this generation. I am a writer, a poet, a creative, a speaker, and an artist.
My words make people feel in a world that numbs them. My words make people think in a world that benefits from them being mindless. My words inspire people to become creators (of their reality) in a world that benefits from them being consumers.
My first book, “Hert” exists in the year 2084; where I tell the story of a lost boy who is brokenhearted and demeaned by an authoritarian society for simply idealizing a reality that was taught to him. A reality where BIG SISTER tells the boy that his mere existence is a nuisance, to work not for himself but for the benefit of others, and that he’s not man enough in a world where it is no longer defined.
My second book, “Paint” tells a story of healing your inner child when your reality is shattered from the rose-colored glasses and see the world has become gray. The gray reality is what you see around you as people grow up and lose the light they carried as a kid. When the world is gray—beauty is diluted and destroyed—anything or anyone that represents color is painted as a villain.
My third book, “Between Human Hearts” goes through two halves, the cycle of love: love, loss, and lust then delves into the psyche of a human in the digital age looking for connection. In a world where technology has overtaken every aspect of our lives, it’s hard to escape it and allow yourself serenity. When the media and the algorithm are telling you who you are, how will you ever know your true identity? Can you override the coding and become who you were meant to be all along? Can you find self-love amongst the constant bombardment of information? Can you connect with yourself to deeply connect with other human hearts?
A timeless trilogy that showcases various elements of our society, reality, and a bleak future if the codes aren’t implemented… all of which, got me to where I am today as an author and a human.
I’m so proud of myself for listening to the calling and making these books. They have altered lives forever and that is through my grit and determination to have it exist and to put it out into the world.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Look for people that are doing what you want to be doing. Look for people that have achieved what you’re after. Look for people who are willing to gift you with gems from their experiences. If you can’t quite get to the pinnacle, find people who have the pieces that add up to the main goal. Now, once you do… are you worthy of being mentored?
A lot of people overcomplicate mentorship. If someone you idolize or someone who has reached the levels you want to be at, you must study every aspect of theirs. Read or listen to every interview. Read their book(s). Have specific questions that are aligned with their specialties or show them that you pay attention to detail in the clues to success they’ve left previously.
One of the strongest factors in being someone worthy of mentorship is curiosity. The others are grit, drive, and the ability to learn at a rapid pace. Stand out by doing unique things that showcase your desire to make it. And you can’t fake being talented.
If you can get advice from someone you want to be mentored by, thank them, and then directly apply it. Once you apply it and have results follow up with them; that drive of yours will impress.
You’d be surprised how many people achieve the level of obtaining wisdom and they don’t apply it (or follow-up) which makes it difficult for the mentor to ever want to trust you again.
You can’t expect someone to invest in you: if you don’t care about them, their ideas, or their work.
For a lot of my life, I became my own mentor in my head. I gave myself proof before anyone else did. I’ve been able to gain gems from certain people throughout my life or just positive reinforcement from those above me. A lot of what I have learned is through the desire to understand and actively seek information through the internet, media, or written works.
The drive to learn must be inherently within you and stop at nothing until you obtain the answers. Sometimes the answers are imperfect or unknown because you’re trailblazing, but you must prepare yourself to the best of your abilities to discover a new reality. A reality that you embody which has no choice but to manifest itself.
Invest in yourself enough that mentors, knowledge, and the answers gravitate to you because you’ve set the foundation.
Pricing:
- Hert — $25
- Paint — $28
- Between Human Hearts — $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://erikthegenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikthegenius/
- Twitter: https://x.com/erikdelacruz/
- Other: Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Erik-De-La-Cruz/author/B08643DNRJ
Image Credits
Twisted Fate Photography and Erik De La Cruz
