We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brooke Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brooke, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
This year I started a new Self-Care journey for myself. This ensures that no matter what, self love and care will be given to myself on matter the situation. Self Care is so important to me and those are the little or big things that keep us going and motivated. This year I started a Self-Care Jar that ties into my “Loving Me Days”. Loving me days are one day out of the month that I give completely to my self. The self care jar has over 50+ activities and tasks that can easily put a smile on my face. On that day out of the month, I will blindly pick a sheet of paper out of the jar that holds an activity for me to get into on that day. The activities range from eating out, shopping, going to get a medi/pedi, to a spontaneous trip. Of course if a trip is picked, I will spend that day planning for it. My Loving Me days are planned at the beginning of the year for each day on random days and it really gives me something to look forward to as the months go on. I can say that the past few months have been hectic for me, but seeing my Loving Me day approaching lets me know that life doesn’t always have to be stressful, serious, or about business. We must take these days to ourselves, recuperate, and gather ourselves to continue to tackle this world that’ll never get easier to live in. This makes me 100% more effective because it is the validation I need from myself. To tell myself that I am proud and I worked hard, it is ok to treat yourself. It is a NECESSITY.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Currently, I am in my 20s era where I do not know what is going on and where my path will lead me. Anyone ever tell you that you have so much time to mess up and make mistakes? Well I am not trying to do that, but I can’t be hard on myself if I do. My name is Brooke and I am a 23 year old graduate student pursuing my Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. To know that I have made it as far as a graduate degree, is very exciting to me. I cannot wait to get my degree and walk across the stage knowing that I achieved the once impossible. Of course it doesn’t stop there because in order for me to help individuals the way I want to, I must graduate and then work for my licensure. It is a long process, but one that I am committed to getting through. While in the process of it, I am also a dancer for the G League NBA basketball team Memphis Hustle. I consider this job to be the Side Hustle of my Dreams. I also dreamt of becoming a triple threat Actress, Singer, and Dancer and the dream is still alive thanks to the Hustle. With school, I can proudly attend practices, learn new routines, enjoy the sport of basketball, and do one of the things I love the most, DANCE. Dance also ties in to my interest and love for fitness. On the days where I can’t make it to the gym and give my glutes, arms, and hamstrings the pump they deserve, dance is there to fulfil all of my cardio needs. Speaking of fitness and having the desire to help others, I am also in the process of getting my fitness trainer certification so that I can motivate and help others as I did for myself. Once I seen my results and reached goals, I am excited and delighted to help others reach those goals as well. Please don’t get tired of me yet…. As I am learning and navigating through life, I am also in the processing of becoming certified and licensed in becoming a financial consultant where I can be of aid to those who need aid with their finances, mortgages, life insurances, etc. I used to be ashamed of not having just ONE niche or things to do with my life, but I am slowly becoming proud of being a Jill of all trades because with this, I shall succeed in life one way or another.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Hard Work Ethic, Logic, & Spirituality. These are three qualities that I obtain that were the most impactful in my journey. Hard Work: In order to get the things you need in this life, you MUST work hard. From the moment I could work, I have never stopped working. I know you are probably thinking, “we all have to work, everyone knows how to work.” This is true, but to have a HARD WORK ETHIC is way beyond someone just “working”. This is the determination, the strength and passion to keep going and to get it by ANY MEANS NECESSARY. You will try and try until you are tried out, but will then try to find a different way/outlet. Sounds familiar? Logic: One thing I have learned over the years is to not take things personally. They say women are super emotional creatures, which s true, but being a woman has always taught me that emotions can ruin a lot of things. It is important to use logic and reasonable thinking and judgement throughout life. This has allowed me to ignore certain biases and opinions from others, keep pushing forward no matter the obstacles, and to take things to the chin (which means to take it like a man basically lol). Logic must be learned in order for you to prevail.
Spirituality: This is a quality that is only worth it if you make it worth it. My relationship with GOD and the building of my faith has been with me since the beginning and is what keeps me going every single day.
My advice to someone who is still early in their journey is to find what works for YOU. What works for someone else may not work for you, but it is all about you approach it. Bluntly, if you didn’t grow up having to work for much, your hard work ethic may be low, but can be increased when you go through things that make you hungry for success. To increase logic/ to become more logic, my simple advice is to NEVER take things personally. And lastly, if spirituality is your thing, NEVER LET GO OF YOUR FAITH NO MATTER WHAT!
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
I am currently facing a tremendous amount of Imposter Syndrome. As mentioned I am involved in a lot which includes getting my master’s, being a social media influence, dancer, and fitness guru. In every last facet, I can give many reasons as to why I feel like I may be an imposter. I am currently stuck at a position of my life where I can’t clearly see where i belong. I look at others and they have one main thing/job/niche and they are perfect at it while I am running around with many imperfect things. Don’t get me wrong, I love everything that I do, but I know you know how it feels to feel like you don’t belong. I want to feel important and be the best at something, but I just don’t know what just yet. I just have to be the best ME I can be in all that i do. This is how I am trying to overcome this challenge. I have to remind myself that I wouldn’t be in the positions that I am in if someone didn’t see the potential in me. The director of the master’s program would have never admitted me, I wouldn’t have been chose from the hustle dance auditions, my following wouldn’t have grown just by me being genuinely me, and I wouldn’t have my fitness results that I do. I am good at all that I do, but our confidence and self esteem can really get the best of us.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Brookealexia_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-johnson-29a76b223?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: Tiktok; Brookealexiaj
Image Credits
Michael Norman Photography Joe Murphy Photography
