Cleo Wade’s book Heart Talk encourages a healthy soul diet
NEW YORK — Cleo Wade is known for not only her poetry, but her positive, uplifting Instagram mantras that have earned a following that includes Yara Shahidi and Jessica Alba.
So it’s not surprising that on a day when she’s running around promoting her new book, she doesn’t complain about being tired, but has another affirmation that fuels her eternally optimistic outlook.
“I (recently) went on a complaint cleanse,” said the poet and activist, whose reasoning was simple. “‘Your dream book is coming out into the world, it’s exactly the book you wanted to make. You can find a way to not complain about the logistics, work and people and things that come with it.’”
“Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a
Better Life” isn’t a self-help book, but it contains plenty of verses from Wade aimed to feed the soul — she calls it a “healthy soul diet.” Her inspirational slant has led her to be being called the Oprah for millennials. The book covers everything from self-worth to relationships.
“What is the opposite of self-care? Self-abandonment. We’re also in this state of not being able to practice selfcare in our dynamics with our neighbour, our partner, our boss, our colleague, the world,” she said. “There’s so much nourishment that is needed for that space in order for us to feel really cared for so we can recognize how to care for other people.”
AP: You spend hours with fans at book signings. Why is it so important for you to give people your full attention?
Wade: There is a desire for people to be seen and heard. We can’t possibly learn how to love our neighbour unless we find common ground with them. But also we can’t understand how to listen to others if we don’t listen to ourselves. Whenever young people email me about heartbreak I tell them, this is the most divine point in which to listen to yourself.