Key Takeaways

• Monrovia’s journey from civil war survivor to acclaimed musician highlights the power of resilience and finding one’s voice.
• Music and journaling served as crucial outlets for Monrovia to process trauma, grief, and identity, ultimately leading to healing.
• The concept of ‘continuing’ and ‘finding another day to quit’ is a powerful strategy for overcoming immense challenges and survivor’s guilt.
• Embracing one’s past, even the painful aspects, and seeking connection with others is vital for personal growth and healing.
• Monrovia’s music aims to provide peace and a sense of belonging, encouraging listeners to recognize their own worth and place in the world.

Segments

Monrovia’s Musical Philosophy (~00:07:30)

• Key Takeaway: Monrovia’s music is designed to bring peace, reduce anxiety, and help listeners recognize their own importance.
• Summary: Monrovia explains that his music aims to create a peaceful atmosphere, allowing listeners to lose anxiety and connect with themselves. He emphasizes the importance of self-worth and hopes his music helps people understand their own significance.

Navigating Identity and Belonging (~00:10:00)

• Key Takeaway: The feeling of being ‘watchful’ is a common experience when navigating new environments and seeking one’s place.
• Summary: Monrovia describes his childhood experience of being ‘watchful’ as he tried to fit into a new culture and family, highlighting the universal feeling of not knowing how to act or where one belongs. Mel relates this to her own experiences, emphasizing how this can be a protective mechanism and a part of self-discovery.

The Power of Healing Out Loud (~00:15:00)

• Key Takeaway: Sharing one’s struggles and healing process openly can create community and help others feel less alone.
• Summary: Monrovia discusses the importance of ‘healing out loud’ and ‘healing with others,’ stemming from his own experience of suffering alone. He explains how music became his journal and outlet, and how sharing it allowed him to connect with others who felt similarly, forming a community.

From War to Music: Monrovia’s Story (~00:25:00)

• Key Takeaway: Monrovia’s life journey, marked by war, displacement, and adoption, has shaped his perspective and fueled his artistic expression.
• Summary: Monrovia recounts his early life in Liberia amidst civil war, his mother’s death, and being taken in by a missionary family. He describes the profound impact of being uprooted from his culture and language, leading to a period of silence and a struggle with identity. He also touches upon the difficulty of coming to terms with his past and the shame that can accompany it.

Overcoming Shame and ‘Loving Suffering’ (~00:35:00)

• Key Takeaway: Shame can lead to a self-destructive cycle of ’loving suffering,’ but acknowledging and accepting one’s past is key to breaking free.
• Summary: Monrovia explains how he initially ’loved his suffering,’ viewing it as a penance for perceived wasted opportunities and the hardships his family endured. He describes a period of depression and substance abuse, which led to a turning point where he accepted help from his father and began the process of rebuilding himself.

The Art of Continuing and Finding Your Voice (~00:50:00)

• Key Takeaway: The ‘art of continuing’ involves persistent effort, embracing vulnerability, and trusting the process of growth.
• Summary: Monrovia discusses his journey to music, starting with journaling and eventually picking up the ukulele. He shares how encouragement from his manager, Eric, and a shift in perspective on TikTok led to his music reaching a wider audience. He emphasizes that growth is gradual and comes from consistent effort and learning from experiences.

Processing Survivor’s Guilt and Claiming the Gift (~01:00:00)

• Key Takeaway: Survivor’s guilt can be reframed from blame to gratitude, recognizing the opportunity to bring good into the world.
• Summary: Monrovia talks about processing survivor’s guilt by shifting from blame to claiming the opportunity as a gift. He explains that this reframing allows him to use his experiences to shine a light on his people and others facing struggles, turning a difficult past into a source of strength and purpose.

The Meaning of ‘Who Am I?’ (~01:15:00)

• Key Takeaway: True identity is found in embracing all aspects of one’s history and recognizing one’s inherent worth and purpose.
• Summary: Monrovia answers the question ‘Who am I?’ by stating, ‘I am John Jay Monrovia, son of Maria from Liberia, West Africa.’ He emphasizes that believing you are meant to be here is the most crucial step in discovering your identity and finding your place in the world.

Musical Performance: ‘Crooked the Road’ (~01:20:00)

• Key Takeaway: Monrovia’s song ‘Crooked the Road’ is a powerful anthem about leaving suffering behind and accepting help from others.
• Summary: Monrovia performs his song ‘Crooked the Road,’ which he explains is about overcoming personal struggles and recognizing the support systems available. The song’s message of acceptance and resilience resonates deeply with the audience and Mel Robbins, who expresses immense pride in his journey.