Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikko Gurnsey.
Hi Nikko, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, I am Nikko Gurnsey, founder of Project Prohairesis and Insurgo Media. I am an advocate for human rights and a travel immersionist.
When I was younger, I struggled to understand my identity. I thought I was doing many things in my best interest, but I was acting in the interests of others. My childhood was not easy, and there was a substantial amount of trauma in my adolescent years. The day I decided to start anew, I knew it would be a process to get myself in a mental state where I could be myself to be able to help mentor those around me.
In 2012, I began exploring my passions and opening myself to new opportunities. I started composing music and writing literature. By 2014, I had created viable goals and worked toward achieving them, which I completed in 2016. In 2017, I faced my most significant life challenges, which continue to this day. By 2020, I found true freedom and learned how to manifest.
Up until 2022, I was isolated, struggling with alcohol addiction, and came to understand I had misinterpreted many relationships in my life. Very few people revered my choice to live sober. Once I decided to remain sober, all the self-work I had been doing began to move much more quickly. Filling the gaps of time that were once filled by alcohol allowed my wellness journey to expand twofold. I started to feel more connected to the earth and my surroundings. I could finally channel my energy in ways that allowed me to conserve and give at leisure.
All these experiences afforded me opportunities that I approached as educational tools. These firsthand accounts were the foundation of what would become Project Prohairesis. I now live a life dedicated to self-awareness and helping others achieve peace. Importantly, to show how to control and channel the power of thought into action, and to be an individual dedicated to awareness and selflessness.
There are more dynamics to this relationship with me, and it would take more time to express it, this is the condensed version.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
First and foremost, I think maybe the struggles derive from the personal trials and tribulations that helped shape the project’s concept. When looking at it from this purview, there were many struggles.
When I first launched Project Prohairesis, I realized I needed to create from different angles. Insurgo Media became the operating mind behind Project Prohairesis. This allowed me to expand the project’s scope and bring it to life through visuals and writing.
Currently, the challenges I face are related to travel questions. The cost of living is increasing, the cost of travel is growing, and some concerning developments are not only global but also affecting us locally in the United States, which impacts the day-to-day work of Project Prohairesis; Thus, making travel incompatible with the objective. I have played with the idea of going into some war-torn areas to find some glimmers of hope, but for right now, I will need to remain as I am.
Additionally, I am navigating another challenge that has helped shape this entire project. I was hoping to reach a point where I could lobby for or advocate for government funding to enable young adults to travel as travel immersionists, not for higher ed, but to travel abroad and learn about different cultures and perspectives. It is my understanding that many Americans are comfortable in their bubble, and when conflict reaches their doorstep, it is often egregiously misunderstood and ultimately dismissed. Encouraging people to step outside their comfort zones brings a world of growth. Now, with government cuts and spending, this objective is put on hold. So, I am trying to rework this idea because it is crucial to the cause.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Project Prohairesis has been an ongoing development that is beyond my control. It’s a somewhat unconventional way of explaining it, but it’s not solely for my benefit or monetization. It aims to help bring resolution, and there should be no cost attached to the development of one’s own character and moral conduct. It is its entity. I may be the creator and author, but I am not the heartbeat of Project Prohairesis.
I am an author (a spirited writer) and a photographer. What I do and how I do it are two different questions. Project Prohairesis aims to spotlight individuals worldwide who give themselves for humanity and do not seek recognition for their efforts. Journaling and photojournaling of these individuals and their environments are essential for the work of Project Prohairesis, as they tell their story.
Being an effective writer and communicator is my art. I believe I specialize in communication. I am not sure what I am known for, but I hope I leave an impression on others, not for my sake but so that they can understand there are no limits to the person they can be and the person they are.
I am most proud of the man I have become and the work I pursue. Mentoring through perspective is very much needed today. Too many people are telling others who they need to be, which has stripped individuality and creativity from humanity. Personally, my primary target audience is young adult men. Currently, we face an epidemic in the United States that is affecting young men; Men who are lost, broken, and have a hard time finding value and self-worth. The mental anguish we, as a society, have placed on the male psyche is something that needs to be addressed. This is also one of the objectives of Project Prohairesis, which I try to combat through my blog on the website.
What sets me apart from others is my ability to listen and interpret effectively. When I look at or hear something, I tend to interpret it for myself first, but I also understand what it may convey to others. I think that this ability to analyze and understand is a unique skill we need to communicate effectively within our circles.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned along my journey is that I know nothing. Years and years of humility have helped me understand that knowledge is infinite. For example, regardless of whether I know how to do something, there are endless ways to get the same result, whatever it may be. Knowledge is not finite, and it would not be very reasonable to be someone who is exact in their statements without having the wealth of knowledge necessary to speak on behalf of the subject matter. However, this is where the power of questions lies, and being a good student who understands this will grant you that knowledge simply by asking questions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://projectprohairesis.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/project_prohairesis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566033298907#
- Other: https://www.insurgo.media/
