Doechii: 3 lessons on authenticity

The Connection Mentors Series

Healthy relationships are the foundation of well-being, but the strength of our connection to our authentic self creates the blueprint for how we show up in relationships with others. It takes courage to walk the path of authenticity.

This series celebrates the stories of those who live on their terms—honoring their truth, authentic strengths, and deepest desires. Embracing our unique expression as human beings creates a meaningful and impactful life.

May this series inspire you to step closer to your truth—or surrender fully to the wisdom of your inner knowing.

Connection Mentor: Doechii

“No matter how long it takes, how many people unfollow me, or how many people lose interest during the process, that is my standard. These are my expectations: honesty, detail, abnormal production, and creating an encounter. I don’t give a f*ck how long it takes if I don’t find a beat that gives me that encounter that feeling or that flow, the song or project will not be made until I have that encounter. Until I dig and find the truth, and it’s up to my standards, it’s not happening. My expectation is going to attract an audience that will appreciate my work”.— Doechii

Doechii was born Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon on August 14, 1998, in Tampa, Florida. The self-proclaimed Swamp Princess is an incredibly introspective and intuitive creative genius who frequently speaks about the importance of tapping into authenticity during the creative process. Her approach to creativity is a breath of fresh air in a world that thrives on fads and trends—embracing being different or a little weird, like icons Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes. Her creativity incorporates elements from her lived experience as a multi-hyphante Black Queer woman who is guided by what she refers to as her inner voice, the source, or the power of God within her. She sings, raps, acts, and masterfully weaves it all together in her projects, including the Grammy Award–winning mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal and her EP Oh, the Places You Will Go.

3 lessons on authenticity from Doechii.

1. Groundbreaking work is created through authenticity and removing the need to create for validation from your audience.

   While preparing to create what became her mixtape Denial is a River, Doechii gave herself one month to write a song daily, free from outside intervention or opinions from her record label. She wanted to create purely from her authentic life force—or, as she puts it, through God—without following the industry’s formula of making music strictly with sales in mind. With only her sound engineer by her side, she wrote and produced songs, trusting that she would end up with exactly what she needed for the final cut.

   
   

   In one of her vlogs, Core Values… What Do I REALLY Give AF About?, posted five years ago, she elaborates on the importance of living up to her expectations regarding creativity, rather than creating for external validation.

   
   

2. Devote yourself to discipline and adopt practices that nurture your creativity and bring you closer to your authentic self.

   Five years ago, Doechii embarked on the Artist's Way journey. The Artist Way, written by Julia Cameron, is a 12-week course that helps blocked artist rediscover their sense of creativity. The exercises in the process are also a great tool for self-discovery and discovering truths about your authentic desires and dreams. Her EP, Oh the places you’ll go, is influenced by discoveries she made during her artist way journey. In the song God she references an excerpt from the Week 5: Recovering a sense of Possibility chapter, which talks about having access to God’s unlimited source of creativity.

   
   

   At one point, Doechii realized she was relying on alcohol as part of her creative process. Recognizing this pattern, she made a commitment to sobriety as a way to maintain a clear connection to God and her intuition, which allows her authentic creativity to flow naturally.

   
   

3. Embracing and sharing real and difficult emotions and challenges.

   She took the risk and wrote songs that offered a window into her struggles with anxiety, as well as moments of romantic betrayal and heartbreak. While many people face these challenges, it takes real courage, as an artist and a public figure, to share them with the world. Loving your authentic self means embracing your flaws and the challenges you face without shame.

   
   

   Let’s embrace the possibilities that stem from clearing the path to our authentic source and creative essence. How would you show up differently? What would you gather the courage to share with the world?

Xx

Carly

Sources/ Resources:

• Rolling Stone: How Doechii Ditched the Formula and Took Her Own Path on 'Denial Is a River'

• Doechii Interview: The Breakfast Club