Meet Charisse Brent

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Charisse Brent. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Charisse, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Let me start by saying that overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing journey. I believe the strategy that I’ve cultivated, and practice daily is where ‘overcoming’ the syndrome lies. What does it mean? How does it manifest in my life? When do I feel it? Why do I feel it? Often these questions are easier said and written, then actually answered. But to answer – is the healing, in answering is the freedom, the authenticity, the sense of worth, value, and most of all sense of self. The first step was acknowledging that I indeed was feeling out of place and like a fraud in spaces I clearly worked hard and deserved to be in. When we grow up and begin to navigate life, we start to experience the eb and flow in our identity, skills, abilities, characteristics, beliefs and emotions, right? And at the same time nuances of compartmentalization, coping mechanisms, over compensation, and the inner self-talk. Once I started being intentional about praying, journaling, and meditating – really carving out the time to reflect and hear from God, I began to recognize those moments when, and where I felt like an imposter. This new-found information allowed me the opportunity to reframe my thoughts during those instances, focusing instead of facets such as facts and evidence of my unique strengths, my successes big AND small, and truly the biggest lesson…to be patient with myself.

I can now say confidently that, I feel the most like an imposter when I am trying to carry out the dreams, goals, and agendas of someone else. When I my actions began to be counterproductive to the direction and speed at which I am going, it is creating an environment where I can easily hydroplane into another person’s lane, recklessly abandoning my own lane. I feel like an imposter when I fall back into absorbing all of someone else’s ideas and beliefs instead of discerning my way through the wheat and the tares, taking what I need and leaving what I don’t. Instead of following my gut and going with my ‘first mind’ — I become an imposter when I ignore my own intuitiveness and guidance from within. I believe imposter syndrome is when you hit the mute button on your heart and turn up the sound on the world. Like a wardrobe change during opening night on Broadway, If we let the world continually tell us what and who we should be, then we will be changing masks and costumes every moment of the day at the hands of others, while we are let with the expense. So how did I overcome imposter syndrome? I learned how to say ‘no’ and ‘yes’ to others without needing to render an ultimatum or compromise myself for the best possible outcome to come to fruition. Follow your heart even when the dream scares you down to the depths of you. Imposters often attempt to imitate something that is naturally coded into a person’s character and heart. There is only one you, and that is your secret weapon in overcoming imposter syndrome.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I pray that through my decisions and actions, I am inspiring others to live a healthy, balanced, and whole lifestyle. By seeking new experiences, stepping outside of my comfort zone, and pushing the boundaries of my own potentially tunnel-versioned perspectives, I am stepping out on faith navigating a career change as an Analyst, journaling and exercising more, and finding ways to express myself through dance, fashion (I am thee ultimate thrifter), yoga, content creation, and solo-traveling. Through it all though, I am consistently making sure I am taking care of myself. The special thing about all this is that, I am more at peace with the journey, with being the main character in fulfilling my personal legend. I am unafraid of unlearning the ways of old that kept me stagnant, in exchange for relearning how to be free and less critical with my ambitions and of myself. Overcoming imposter syndrome has helped me to go the distance…to go to the spaces and places where my faith is without borders.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the qualities and areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey would be those that revolve around being a person of integrity. As author Don Miguel Ruiz would put it, a person who is impeccable with their word, doesn’t take anything personally, doesn’t make assumptions, and who always does their best…sorry, I know you said three but lets toss one more in for good measure. Carving out the time to reflect on what kind of person I want to be, as mentioned earlier, helped me pinpoint what kind of realistic effort and energy I would need to put forward to begin learning skills such as saying what I mean and avoid using words to speak against or gossip about others or myself, but to use my words to speak life, love, and truth.

So, my advice for folks who are early in their journey, at a crossroads, or even considering turning around and going back – take a second to really see and understand how far you’ve come without criticizing, over-analyzing, or feeling shame. Know that ‘your best’ is going to change from moment to moment ad each moment needs new grace, new forgiveness, new confidence, and new patience. The energy and motor-functions needed for the body to ride a bike uphill, is different from what is needed to ride that same bike downhill through deep turns and blind corners. The work you’re able to get done when you show up to work healthy, versus when you’re sick will be noticeably different. This doesn’t mean you’re any less capable, worthy, or important. By simply doing the best we can in any circumstance, with what we have, will help avoid being overly critical of ourselves from the way we speak to ourselves, to the lenses in which we are using to judge ourselves.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The Alchemist by Pauleo Coelho has played an important role in my development and continues to be a book I go back and re-read often. There is a plethora of nuggets gracefully and yet playfully sprinkled throughout the book. However, there are some who resonated with me a bit more and really has become a part of my day-to-day. I keep a quote or two in rotation whilst I navigate adulting. From the book one quote reads: “Don’t give into your fears, if you do you won’t be able to talk to your heart.” As another quote states: “And, when you want something, all of the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” These nuggets remind me to stop fixating on the ‘how’ or even the ‘when’ things may happen, and just believe and have faith.. without a shadow of doubt type faith that it ‘will’ happen. They urge me, as I hope they will help to urge other folks to keep seeking the trail less traveled that sets your heart ablaze.

My stepdad use to always say “there’s no such thing as can’t.” Oh, how those words ring true when facing imposter syndrome head on. Everyone is on a journey of becoming what their heart desires, in pursuit of the rarest treasure. A beauty, only the beholder could describe. The Alchemist by Pauleo Coelho keeps me grounded, and reminds me to release myself from old patterns and beliefs, and from the choices old versions of me made, because she did the best she could with the wisdom, knowledge, and discernment she had at the time, and that, I believe is something we can all use a little bit more of. Understanding that we are all in different places on the road of life and like the bike from earlier, we can’t judge ourselves because we only see half the equation at the bottom of the hill not realizing we have to press forward to receive the rest. We can’t judge those that are at the bottom of the hill from the top soley because we feel as if the vantage pointe is better, because again, those at the bottom may be ahead and are doing the best they can with the knowledge and information they now have.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyldloccs
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justresssse?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charisse-brent-mara-cra-51923213b
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wyldloccs?_t=8rcHjtXhHDT&_r=1