In the latest episode of “Highly Sensitive Money,” host Diana Yañez sits down with Mikella Millen to explore the intersections of money, high sensitivity, and social justice. What unfolds is a profoundly insightful conversation that spans personal histories, professional philosophies, and the emotional complexities of living as a highly sensitive person in a capitalist society.
Mikella Millen, MA, LCAT, ATR-BC (she/they) is a licensed Art Therapist, Reiki Master, and Hypnosis Practitioner whose work supports trauma healing for the mind, body, and spirit. She brings more than 10 years of experience facilitating trauma therapy to her approach to energy healing and meditation. Mikella is the author of Inward Vision: a Trauma Recovery Workbook and has a private practice offering individual sessions, groups, and trainings.
LINK TO YOUTUBE
The Origins: Meet Mikella Millen
Diana kicks off the episode by introducing Mikella Millen and reflecting on how they met at an entrepreneurship group, a connection that has flourished into a meaningful relationship over the years. Mikella’s journey into psychotherapy and art therapy frames the initial backdrop of the conversation.
Mikella Millen: “I do still practice as a psychotherapist, and I have a small psychotherapy practice that’s trauma-focused. More and more, I really identify as a multidisciplinary practitioner.”
Childhood Financial Dynamics
The conversation soon delves into the financial backgrounds that shaped Mikella’s youth. They touch on contrasting attitudes towards money inherited from their parents: a mother who viewed money as a finite, inherited asset, and a father who was always in a cycle of making and spending money.
Mikella Millen: “The mythology that developed after they divorced was that Dad spends too much and is irresponsible, whereas Mom is cheap and doesn’t enjoy life. I was caught in the middle, and the message I received was that my needs caused conflict.”
Financial Independence and Young Adulthood
Navigating financial independence was a significant part of Mikella’s young adulthood. Working from a young age and experiencing periods of financial instability shaped their views on money.
Mikella Millen: “Although I did have very real financial problems, I don’t remember being overly worried about money. I was used to having no money and just needed the bare minimum. It worked until it didn’t, especially after dealing with major physical injuries without health insurance.”
Transitioning Financial Philosophies
The conversation pivots to examining how Mikella’s financial philosophy has evolved over time. They speak candidly about the balance between enjoying life and feeling secure.
Mikella Millen: “I try to distinguish between tangible financial problems and emotional financial problems. If it’s an emotional issue, I take an action more attuned to feeling secure than hitting a certain number in my bank account.”
Accessibility in Wellness and Therapy
Diana praises Mikella’s unique approach to accessibility in their practice, highlighting how they’ve incorporated sliding scale pricing and donation-based offerings.
Mikella Millen: “It’s a combination of individual sessions, tiered sliding scale groups, and donation-based offerings. This structure allows me to serve a wider community and ensures I feel good about the exchange of services.”
Living with Less: A Complex Reality
In discussing the challenges of maintaining this model in a high-cost city, Mikella emphasizes the importance of spending less money rather than focusing on earning more.
Mikella Millen: “Part of making this work in New York City is living with less monetarily but not feeling in a state of lack. It’s about valuing what genuinely nourishes me.”
High Sensitivity: A Double-Edged Sword
The conversation touches on how being a highly sensitive person impacts every aspect of life, including financial and social spheres. Mikella underscores the balance of managing high sensitivity and sensation-seeking.
Mikella Millen: “I’m addicted to novelty in my creative life. I let ideas simmer to enjoy the tension and develop them carefully, rather than acting on them immediately.”
Social Justice and Spheres of Influence
Mikella speaks eloquently about their approach to social justice, emphasizing actions within their sphere of influence and the cascading effects of deep unconscious work.
Mikella Millen: “Caring for yourself isn’t an isolated act; it’s something that allows you to be more present and contribute positively to your community.”
The Intersection of Money, Sensitivity, and Social Justice
Reflecting on the broader themes of the episode, Mikella and Diana explore how these areas are interconnected and mutually influencing. They contemplate the necessity of aligning resources—whether money, time, or emotional energy—with personal values and community needs.
Mikella Millen: “I can’t think about my relationship with money without considering my relationship with broader resources like time and connection, which support me.”
Closing Reflections: The Power of Unbridled Joy
The episode concludes with Diana reading a channeled poem from Mikella, which encapsulates the essence of their message:
“Sometimes you have an idea in your mind, and when things turn out differently, you feel you have failed. Disappointment creates a gravitational pull… Do not underestimate the power of your unbridled joy. When you can remember your true essence, this energy finds a channel to cultivate and seed itself. Reconnect and unearth the radiance that lives within.”
From Out of the Lion’s Gate and Into the Fire
Conclusion: Embracing Complexity
Diana’s conversation with Mikella Millen serves as a profound reminder of the complexities inherent in navigating the intersections of money, sensitivity, and social justice. It’s a call to embrace our true essence, align our resources with our values, and foster a deeper connection within ourselves and our communities.
Diana Yañez: “Thank you so much for sharing so deeply and for doing this thing that we do of connecting everything at once. Understanding myself as a highly sensitive person has helped me feel calm about my mind that feels like Indra’s net all at once.”
For more from Mikella Millen, check out their new project, Spaces Between, offering rich, meditative content on life’s transitional moments.
This enriching dialogue between Diana and Mikella is an invitation to explore your connection to money, sensitivity, and social justice with deeper awareness and compassion.
Resources:
Mikella’s website www.mikellamillen.com
Mikellas’s Trauma Recovery Workbook
sign up for Mikella’s newsletter
Radical Friendship by Kate Johnson
www.allthecolors.net for the Money Archetype quiz