Keywords

creativity, uncertainty, intuition, career transition, creative career paths, overcoming fear, trusting the process, life transformation, making a career change, full-time creative career, diversifying career paths, creative entrepreneurship, leap of faith in life and work, transitioning from a stable career to a creative one, using intuition and trust to navigate life decisions, personal growth, community support, stress management, iconoclast

Summary

In this episode, we follow Ishita’s journey from aspiring doctor to full-time creative director and choreographer. Rejecting limiting labels, Ishita shows how embracing uncertainty and trusting your intuition can guide major life and career decisions. We dive into practical strategies for managing stress by controlling reactions rather than external circumstances, the importance of community support, and how diversifying career paths can provide stability in uncertain times. We also discuss leaps of faith, trusting the process, and self awareness fueling personal growth. If you’re considering a career pivot, pursuing a creative passion, or seeking guidance in navigating life transitions, Ishita’s story offers inspiration, actionable insights, and encouragement to trust yourself and embrace the journey.

Takeaways

Ishita rejects label culture, believing it limits human complexity.

Her journey involved a significant pivot from medicine to dance.

Embracing uncertainty is essential for personal growth.

Community support plays a crucial role in navigating career challenges.

Stress management is about controlling reactions, not the stressors themselves.

Diversifying career paths can provide stability in uncertain times.

Transitioning to full-time creativity requires a leap of faith.

Unexpected joys can arise from embracing spirituality and trust in the process.

Intuition is a vital compass for making life decisions.

Sound bites:

"Uncertainty is the rule."

"Stress is something that you choose to do."

"We're all making it up!"

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Living

00:33 Ishita Mili: From Medicine toMovement

02:57 Accepting Complexity, Rejecting Labels

05:10 Jumping Off "The Path" With No Plan

08:26 Uncertainty As The Rule, Embracing The Unknown

11:37 Dealing With External Pressure And Critics

15:02 Stress As A Choice, Managing Your Reactions

19:37 Self-Care As A Necessity

21:22 Transition To Being A Full-Time Creative

24:49 Taking The Leap, Doubting The Decision

29:05 Developing Faith In The Journey

30:44 Surrendering To The Flow of Life

33:00 Trying Without Knowing

34:22 Intuition As Your Compass

36:10 Accepting The Path As It Unfolds

38:38 Where To Find Ishita

Ishita's Bio:

Ishita Mili is a Bengali American director, choreographer, and scientist. She founded [IMGE] Dance as a performance company based in dance, film, and music, and over the last 8 years, IMGE has built bridges across concert, commercial, musical theater, academic, and independent arts industries through their distinct intersection between Indian and American classical to street styles.

Ishita was awarded Artist of Exceptional Merit by the Asian American Arts Alliance, received a Folks Arts Apprentice grant under theNJ State Council of the Arts, and taught the IMGE methodology at Princeton University and Gonzaga University. She most recently completed the LabWorks '24-'25 cohort at New Victory Theater and received a 2025 Individual Artist Fellowship award from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Ishita is also a deeply involved community advocate and activist. She is the founder of South Asian American Arts Solidarity (SAAAS), the co-host of the South Asian Performing Arts Summit, and is also the co-host of Kinetic Dance Film Festival.

Alongside her achievements in the arts world, Ishita holds a BS in Chemistry and MBS with a concentration in Drug Discovery and Development, and spent 5 years working in biotechnology.

Instagram: @ishitamili @imgedance

Website: www.imgedance.com