And Then We Rise

And Then We Rise Plot Summary

Introduction

The morning sun slanted through the window as I reached for my green juice, a ritual that had become sacred to me. Years ago, this moment would have looked different—perhaps with coffee, or nothing at all as I rushed into my day. But now, this intentional pause represented something profound: a daily commitment to myself, a revolutionary act of self-love. This journey to wellness isn't always easy, but it has transformed not just my body, but my spirit, my relationships, and my purpose in this world. Common's journey mirrors this transformation, taking us from the South Side of Chicago where fried foods and quick meals were the norm, to a life where conscious eating, physical movement, mental clarity, and spiritual connection became the foundation of his existence. Through intimate stories and hard-won wisdom, he shows us that self-care isn't selfish—it's essential. As Audre Lorde reminds us, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare." When we nourish ourselves deeply, we gain the strength to nourish our communities. When we honor our bodies and minds, we find the courage to stand tall against systems that would diminish us. This isn't just about feeling good—though that happens too—it's about creating the internal conditions necessary for meaningful change, both personal and collective.

Chapter 1: Food as Foundation: Transforming the Body Through Conscious Eating

Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Common's relationship with food was shaped by the soul food traditions he loved. His mother's cooking was legendary—those pancakes that his cousin Ajile would request during overnight stays, the pork chops, the fried chicken, the celebration meals that brought family together. Food wasn't just nourishment; it was connection, tradition, and love. But health consciousness wasn't part of the conversation. As he recalls, there wasn't a single vegetarian in his life during those early years. His first introduction to food consciousness came through the music he was absorbing as a teenager. At sixteen, he found himself rapping along to KRS-One's "My Philosophy," where the artist proudly declared himself "an intelligent brown man, a vegetarian, no goat or ham or chicken or turkey or hamburger, cause to me that's suicide, self-murder." Though Common was still eating chicken while reciting these lyrics, seeds were being planted. Hip-hop artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Brand Nubian, and Eric B. & Rakim were weaving messages about self-knowledge, pride, and health into their music. As Common reflects, "The lecture is conducted from the mic into the speaker." The words came first; the conviction would follow. The turning point arrived when Common was nineteen, having breakfast with friends in Los Angeles while promoting his first album. As he enjoyed his usual pork chop and eggs, his friend No I.D. challenged him: "Man, when are you going to start taking care of yourself?" Something clicked within Common that morning. Walking across the street afterward, under the blue California sky, he made the decision to remove pork from his diet. It wasn't just about the food—it was about making a choice for himself, about starting to love himself in a new way. This decision initiated a gradual transformation. Common started noticing how different foods affected his energy and clarity. After late nights at what he and his friends called "the Dirty Burger," he'd wake up feeling heavy and sluggish. During experimental breaks from eating beef, he'd sleep better and feel lighter. His body was teaching him what it needed. Eventually, he moved from Chicago to Brooklyn, where he encountered a community practicing vegetarian and vegan lifestyles that felt "down-to-earth and also totally about elevation." Through this community, he discovered juice bars and plant-based eating that gave him unprecedented energy and clarity. What Common learned through his food journey was that nourishment is more than physical—it's spiritual and communal. When he shifted to a plant-based diet, he found not just better health but enhanced creativity, mental clarity, and a stronger connection to his purpose. He came to understand that heavy food creates a heavy spirit, while foods grown from the earth energize both body and mind. Food became medicine, a pathway to his highest self, and a foundation for all his creative and community work. As he explains, "If you love yourself, if you truly have that feeling of pure love, you will never go out and destroy someone else."

Chapter 2: Physical Awakening: Finding Strength Beyond Appearance

At thirty-two years old, Common faced a challenge that would transform his relationship with his body. Cast in the film "Smokin' Aces," he learned he would play Sir Ivy, a bodyguard with a commanding presence—and in one scene, he would need to carry co-star Alicia Keys down multiple flights of stairs. The director made it clear: Common needed to look bigger to be believable in this role. Having been fifteen years since he'd worked out systematically, this was no small task. The pressure was real—there was no way he was going to be the guy who drops Alicia Keys. Working with trainer Harley Pasternak, Common began a journey that would change far more than his physique. They started simple—eight to ten push-ups for four rounds, followed by similar progressions with sit-ups, body squats, and lunges. The sessions were brief, just thirty minutes a few times weekly. "By being consistent and putting in the practice, I became stronger and better both physically and mentally," Common recalls. As his strength grew, his confidence followed. On that day of filming, carrying Alicia Keys down flight after flight of stairs, he didn't just manage—he excelled, experiencing a deep satisfaction in what his body could now accomplish. What began as preparation for a role evolved into a lifelong practice. "I became so lit up by how good I felt when I worked out that I never wanted that feeling to go away," Common shares. The physical training wasn't just about changing his appearance—it transformed his relationship with himself. Working out became a form of meditation, a time when he was fully present in his body, focused solely on the movement at hand. The discipline of showing up for himself consistently built a foundation of self-respect that permeated other areas of his life. Years later, working with trainer Yancy Berry (whom Common affectionately calls "Sir Yance"), this practice deepened. Yancy brought not just physical expertise but a holistic approach that addressed mind, body, and spirit. "Some people think that wellness, emotional and spiritual well-being, therapy, that they're not tough," Yancy explained to Common. "When the truth is, it's the most tough! It's the most powerful thing in the world to take care of yourself, your physical and spiritual and emotional well-being." During the isolation of the pandemic, Common extended this personal practice into community building by launching live workout sessions on social media. People from across the country joined in, many starting fitness routines for the first time. "I did it," the messages said. "I did it at my own pace, at my level, and I did it." This collective energy flowed through everyone involved, creating connection during a time of profound disconnection and reminding participants they weren't alone. Through his physical journey, Common discovered that strength isn't about imposing physiques or impressive feats—it's about consistency, self-compassion, and progress rather than perfection. It's about honoring where you are today while believing in where you can go tomorrow. When we treat our bodies as sacred vessels worthy of care and attention, we create the physical foundation necessary for everything else in our lives to flourish. The body becomes not just a vehicle for moving through the world, but a temple that houses our dreams, our creativity, and our capacity to serve others.

Chapter 3: Mental Clarity: Therapy, Creativity and Inner Peace

The path to mental wellness began for Common with a broken heart. Floating through life, unable to be truly present due to overwhelming sadness, he found himself walking down the block with his cousin Ajile, who kept assuring him, "You're going to be okay." His aunt Mattie offered late-night conversations. But it was his acting coach who finally suggested, "You need to see a therapist. I know somebody who would be really good for you." This recommendation led Common to Susan Shilling, a social worker who counsels artists and creative people—a relationship that would profoundly transform his understanding of himself. In therapy, Common began piecing together parts of his story that were clouding his judgment in the present. He explored childhood wounds he had never processed—including being molested as a child by an older boy he considered a friend. He had pushed this violation deep down, never telling anyone, carrying it with him on his emotional journey. Through therapy, he gained insight into how this unprocessed trauma affected his adult relationships. "Now I have more insight into my own patterning," he explains, "and I can pause in a confusing moment in a relationship situation and think to myself, 'Is what I'm feeling really about me and this person? Or is it me dealing with old stuff and projecting it?'" Common also explored how his family dynamics shaped him—particularly his relationship with his absent father and the insecurities that developed when his mother remarried when he was eight. Though too young to understand and process these emotions at the time, therapy helped him identify how these early experiences contributed to patterns in his adult relationships. "Deep within me, my young self exists—a little Rashid who felt abandoned by his father," he shares. "This hurt remained as pain and insecurity; this young part of me needed to be reassured and cared for and heard." This therapeutic journey complemented Common's creative practice, which had always been a source of mental clarity and spiritual connection. When he writes lyrics or freestyles, he describes entering a state where "I'm connecting with something divine and I can just let it pass through me." Creativity became a way to access parts of himself he couldn't otherwise reach, to express emotions he hadn't fully processed. "Through my creative processes," he explains, "not only am I able to say it, but I'll say it out loud, even on the stage." During difficult periods, like his struggle with COVID-19 and the resulting brain fog, Common returned to these practices—reading scripture, meditating, working out, and creating—as anchors for his mental wellbeing. When feelings of depression and anxiety overwhelmed him, he turned to physical movement, putting on A Tribe Called Quest and doing push-ups despite the rain outside and the pressure in his head. "I can do it," he decided. "I'm going to go make it through." This determination to push through darkness by engaging all aspects of his being—physical, creative, and spiritual—illustrates Common's holistic approach to mental health. What Common discovered through therapy and creative practice was that mental clarity requires both understanding our past wounds and developing tools to center ourselves in the present. When we acknowledge our histories, care for our inner children, and create space for authentic expression, we can move through life with greater awareness and compassion—both for ourselves and others. Mental wellness isn't about eliminating negative emotions but developing the capacity to witness them, understand their origins, and choose how we respond. In this space of clarity, we find not just peace of mind, but the freedom to create and connect from our most authentic selves.

Chapter 4: Spiritual Connection: Nurturing the Soul's Purpose

At eight years old, Common experienced a pivotal spiritual awakening. One Sunday morning, he and his mother headed to their usual church, Unity, only to find it so packed there wasn't room for them. A friend suggested they try Trinity United Church of Christ instead. What happened next would forever change his understanding of spirituality. As Reverend Jeremiah Wright began to preach, young Common felt electrified. "I felt the charge. I felt the energy of his message," he recalls. "It was a celebration of God and of Black culture. I felt the power in myself, and it was a Godly power and it was a Black power." This moment ignited what would become a lifelong spiritual journey. While raised in Christian traditions, Common's understanding of spirituality transcended religious boundaries. "I'm not really a person who believes that religion is the only construct that gets you closer to God," he explains. "I believe that people from different spiritual practices are in tune with God. I just chose the pathway of Jesus to reach my higher self and to communicate with God." For Common, spirituality is about relationship—a direct, personal connection to the divine that exists beyond human-created religious structures. This spiritual foundation became particularly crucial during challenging periods. When his first album wasn't successful and his future as an artist seemed uncertain, Common turned to scripture and prayer daily. "I was learning how to take those words and put them into practice," he shares. "Even though I was in a space of doubt and darkness, I still kept saying the things that the Bible was teaching me, and it was reminding me that this wasn't just about this one album and one step. It was about this path that I was on, and this dream, and this purpose that I knew God had given me." During the isolation of the pandemic, Common deepened his spiritual practice. With the usual hustle of traveling and performing suddenly halted, he found space for stillness and reflection. "I went to the raw core of what I needed in my life, what I loved in my life," he explains. "I love building a relationship with God, and I used that time to be in conversation and listen and learn about God and with God." This period of enforced stillness became a profound blessing, allowing his morning practices to expand from a rushed thirty minutes to a spacious, unhurried communion with the divine. In conversation with Pastor Touré Roberts, whom Common considers both spiritual guide and friend, he explored the concept of "soul-awareness"—a deeper knowing than mere self-awareness. As Pastor Touré explains, "Self-awareness tells you where you are. Soul-awareness is deeper than that...Being soul-aware is being tapped into what your soul needs to be okay." This might be different for each person—reading scripture, praying, meditating, talking with a friend, being in nature—but the essential quality is connection to the stillness within, where one's deepest truths reside. Through his spiritual journey, Common discovered that nurturing his connection to the divine wasn't separate from other aspects of wellness—it was the foundation that gave everything else meaning. His food choices, physical practices, creative expression, and mental clarity all became pathways to his higher self. As he explains, "My spirituality is a part of my wellness; my wellness is a part of my spirituality. To me, the pursuit of wellness is about the self-love that can lead me to my higher self." In this integrated understanding, caring for oneself becomes an act of reverence, a recognition of the divine spark within that connects us to something larger than ourselves.

Chapter 5: Community Healing: When Self-Care Becomes Collective Care

After decades of personal transformation through food, exercise, therapy, and spiritual practice, Common recognized that his journey wasn't complete without extending these gifts to his community. During the pandemic, he observed a shift in his team's wellbeing and took action. "I was giving my team as much support as I could on a personal level," he shares. "I invited them to go to therapy, and people would reach out to me and say, 'I want to go. Thank you. I'm dealing with stuff right now, this is really difficult.'" What had begun as individual wellness practices evolved into collective healing. This extension of care took many forms. Common created "Com + Well," a health and wellness series on YouTube featuring conversations with friends and teachers about self-care. He launched live workout sessions on social media that connected people across the country during a time of profound isolation. The messages he received reflected the ripple effect of shared practice: "I did it at my own pace, at my level, and I did it." By coming together with a collective intention of wellness, the energy flowed through everyone involved, creating a circuit of mutual support and encouragement. Common's understanding of community care extends beyond his immediate circle to broader social change. Supporting Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's campaign, Common was drawn to the candidate's approach to reducing violence through providing jobs and mental health resources. "Not many leaders have come with that type of idea," Common notes, "and we have definitely not heard them talk about mental health like that in Chicago." He recognized that addressing root causes—providing youth with support before trauma manifests as harmful behavior—creates healthier individuals and, consequently, healthier communities. This perspective connects directly to Common's belief that self-love and community love are inseparable. "Anyone who loves themselves, who truly has compassion, cannot go out and hurt another person," he explains. "If you have been taught to have compassion for yourself, then you will have the capacity to have compassion for others." The work of building healthy communities begins with healing individuals—teaching each person to value themselves, to understand their emotions, to process their traumas, and to express themselves authentically. For Common, his journey of self-discovery has led naturally to service. "Because of my work on self, I've reached the level in my life, the point in my life, where the activity and actions of actualizing things brings so much reward to me," he shares. The joy he finds in seeing others achieve their dreams, become better human beings, and develop stronger relationships with themselves and with God has become central to his definition of success. "I want to see people achieving evolution and growth, to see people become inspired to make decisions to be better in their lives," he explains. "That's why I wrote this book. Because your joy is a part of my joy, and your happiness makes me happy. I want to rise, but I don't want to be on that mountaintop alone. I want you up there with me." Through his journey, Common illustrates that true wellness is never just about individual achievement—it's about creating ripples of healing that extend outward. When we care for ourselves deeply, we develop the capacity to care for others. When we heal our own wounds, we're less likely to wound others. When we find our own voices, we can better amplify the voices of those who remain unheard. Self-care becomes revolutionary when it transforms not just individuals but communities, creating new possibilities for collective flourishing.

Chapter 6: The Discipline of Joy: Maintaining Wellness in a Troubled World

During a filming project in London, Common experienced something unusual—a profound sense of physical relaxation he couldn't immediately identify. It wasn't until a conversation with a doorman about the rarity of guns in England that clarity struck. "We don't have guns like that out here," the man had said, and suddenly Common understood the unfamiliar looseness in his body: he wasn't feeling like his physical self was a threat, nor was he feeling threatened by the surrounding culture. As a Black man in America, he had become so accustomed to carrying tension that its absence felt foreign. This realization illuminated how deeply external circumstances—particularly systemic violence and discrimination—affect our internal wellbeing. "Living with the threat of violence, with the constant knowledge of external dangers, it impacts the body on so many levels, and it impacts the mind, the heart, the soul," Common reflects. Research confirms this reality: chronic stress from racism and discrimination increases rates of anxiety, depression, PTSD, diabetes, heart disease, and dementia in Black Americans. These aren't coincidences but direct physical manifestations of societal harm. In such a context, maintaining wellness becomes both more challenging and more essential. Common turned to Dr. Tracey for guidance on caring for his mind and body amid these stressors. She explained that our minds create the environment our bodies inhabit, establishing a relationship between brain, spine, hormones, and immune system. When we're relaxed—getting a massage, napping in sunshine, exercising, laughing with loved ones—our bodies release dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin, creating a cascade of healing responses. Conversely, when we feel threatened, cortisol and adrenaline flood our systems, creating inflammation and illness over time. For Common, establishing discipline around joy became a revolutionary act—a way of refusing to let external circumstances determine his internal state. His morning ritual begins with gratitude: "Thank you, God, for this beautiful day." This practice grounds him in appreciation before engaging with the world's challenges. "Thanking God reminds me what I'm capable of and what I've been gifted with," he explains. "When you start looking at the qualities of God, you start realizing all the beautiful things that you are supposed to have, that you are destined to have, that were created for you." This discipline extends to how Common engages with difficult emotions like jealousy or rejection. When auditioning for roles he doesn't get, he practices transforming envy into generosity: "I'll send that person some light, say a prayer for them to go out and do great things, because when they got that role, it's because it was meant for them." This isn't about denying disappointment but choosing how to channel it. "When I release those emotions and turn them into something more elevated, into a prayer for someone else, I free myself," he explains. Maintaining wellness in a troubled world requires both individual practice and structural change. "To change these outcomes, the system has to change," Common acknowledges. "Until that happens, we have to do whatever we can to take care of our bodies and improve our own health." Each act of self-care becomes not just personal healing but political resistance—a shield carried while working for broader change. As he puts it, "Knowing all of this, I believe that each move we do to take care of ourselves is a holy act and a revolutionary action." What Common offers through his journey is not just inspiration but a practical philosophy: joy requires discipline, especially when the world gives us reasons for despair. By consistently choosing gratitude, by feeding our minds on beauty rather than destruction, by moving our bodies with intention, by connecting to something larger than ourselves, we create internal conditions that allow us to remain whole even as we engage with a broken world. This isn't escapism but strategic resistance—maintaining our capacity to imagine and create the world we wish to inhabit, even while acknowledging the one we currently do.

Summary

Throughout Common's transformative journey from Chicago's South Side to a life of conscious wellness, one truth emerges with crystal clarity: self-love is the foundation for all meaningful change. What began with small choices—eliminating pork from his diet at nineteen, working out at thirty-two, entering therapy after a heartbreak—evolved into a comprehensive philosophy of life that integrates body, mind, and spirit. His path reveals that wellness isn't about perfection but practice, not restriction but liberation, not selfishness but preparation for service. As he discovered through each stage of his evolution, the discipline of self-care doesn't diminish our capacity to care for others—it magnifies it. The power of Common's approach lies in its wholeness and accessibility. We don't need to transform our lives overnight or achieve some impossible standard of health. We can begin where we are—with one glass of water, one walk around the block, one moment of stillness, one prayer of gratitude. Each small act of self-respect builds upon the next, creating a foundation strong enough to support not just our individual dreams but our collective healing. In a world that often treats Black bodies as disposable, that dismisses self-care as indulgence, that values productivity over presence, choosing wellness becomes a revolutionary stance. It declares: I am worthy of care. I deserve to flourish. My joy matters. And from that unshakable center, we find the strength to extend that same affirmation to others—to rise not alone, but together.

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Common

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., better known by his stage name Common (previously Common Sense), is an American hip-hop artist and actor.

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