Meet Tryphena Wade

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tryphena Wade. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tryphena below.

Tryphena , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
When I find myself in a room and notice that there’s no one else in the room who looks like me, I find that it’s helpful to first take notice of how I feel being in the room. How does my singularity in that room affect me and the work that I’m meant to do in that space? I believe that any success I find in that room is multi-layered; I may be there to teach, to glean, to perform, or to simply enjoy. Hopefully, I can do all of the above, and not be hindered by the fact that I’m the only one who looks like me. Most importantly, I know that any room that God has put on my path is a room that is meant to elevate me or the people in that room in some way. I try to remember to walk with the confidence that God has me there for a reason and is holding me up even in moments when I feel singled out.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Well, I do many things!! I’ve been a professional actor for 20 years. Most of my work as an actor has been in theatre. I’ve performed overseas, on stages across North America, and on Broadway in Disney’s The Lion King. When Covid shut down Broadway for over a year, I took that as the perfect opportunity to make a needed and desired shift in my life and I moved to LA. Since moving, I’ve shifted into on-camera work, acting in over 20 films as well as producing my own short film, Solomon’s Mood, which I also wrote and starred in.

In addition to writing Solomon’s Mood and another short film called Dear Carefree Black Girl, I’m also a self-published author. My first book, The Heart Works: A Collection, was published in 2017. The book is full of personal stories, journal entries, and essays that I wrote over several years and compiled as a collection. Currently, I’m in the process of researching and writing a feature-length film.

In addition to all that, I’m a Certified Life Coach specializing in Fearless Living. As a coach, my goal is to help my clients through the process of naming, confronting, and conquering their fears. My life has been full of ups and downs, excitement, and adventure. In my early adult years, I began to recognize that everything I desired for myself was on the other side of my fear. I’m a lover of travel and have visited over 30 countries. For a short while, I was documenting my travels and adventures on a blog called wedontsitoncouches.com. As I was sharing my adventures, I noticed that many people would react out of fear, expressing that their desire to do something similar would be trumped by their fear. My response to people’s declarations became “Fear Is Stupid” and it’s a catchphrase that has stuck with me. It’s a reminder that fear may come, but we have the power to choose whether or not it will control us!

Coming up for me is the release of a feature film that I starred in, The Geechee Witch: A Boo Hag Story. The film comes out on February 2. This was my first lead in a theatrically released feature and I’m so excited for people to finally see it. It tells the story of Leah Robbins, played by me, who relocates with her husband to his family’s estate in coastal Georgia after her mother-in-law’s mysterious death. As Leah grapples with her new surroundings, she becomes convinced that a sinister force, a Boo Hag, is targeting her family. The witch, disguised in the skin of past victims, seeks to claim Leah’s life and that of her husband. I really loved playing this vulnerable and nuanced character and diving into the Gullah/Geechee folkloric tale of the “Boo Hag”.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Along my journey, I have learned many things. Three of the most impactful lessons that I have collected along the way are to Stay Open, Embrace the Pivot, and Experience Life! When we have a goal, dream, or vision that we are working to bring to life, it is important to have a certain amount of tunnel vision. I’ve learned that while keeping our eye on our intention is powerful, making space for unimagined possibilities is vital. One never knows how an unexpected twist can lead to an amazing outcome. If we allow ourselves to stay open, we will develop the ability to embrace life-changing surprises.
This brings me to my next lesson; Embrace the Pivot. If the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that the unexpected WILL occur. Holding on so rigidly to what we’ve come to know as normal keeps us from pivoting when life requires it. What is behind us may have worked for a time, but pivoting when required will bring us to a new reality that must be embraced if we are to be successful on life’s journey.
Finally, embrace life! Again, keeping our focus is important, but the beauty of life is LIFE! We have to permit ourselves to embrace new adventures and interests. This will only make us more empathetic, well-rounded, and stronger for the realities that our fulfilled visions will bring.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
For me, the first step to overcoming overwhelming feelings is to acknowledge what I’m feeling. It is impossible to overcome what you can’t name, so I try to start there. Sometimes this is easy to discover. At other times, this takes a bit more time and introspection. But making space for the discovery is important. If I need to deal with these feelings in the moment and don’t have time to disengage and really sit with myself, I will say a prayer and ask God to calm any fears, anxieties, or frustrations and carry me through the moment. I truly believe that God is always with me, always guiding me, and if I acknowledge Him, He will direct my path.
Once I get through the moment, I take time to sit with myself and try to trace the feeling back to its origins. Sometimes, I discover that there’s an old issue that needs to be addressed. Or I may discover that I’ve taken on someone else’s fears as I my own. Again, this is something that can take time and may need to be revisited periodically. But the time it takes always worth it. I have learned many new things about myself and experienced healing from God by giving myself time to work through overwhelming feelings in this way.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
White sweater, black dress, and dark teal dress (Molly Pan) Geechee Witch poster and image with myself and tall gentleman are from Geechee Witch Movie coming out Feb 2, nationwide

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of

Productivity
Beating Burnout

Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others

Leadership Development
Finding Your Why

Not knowing why you are going wherever it is that you are going sounds silly,