Meet Christin Collins

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

Hi Christin, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

It took decades to understand the blessing it is to be in a room with a divergence of ideas and thinking instead of being surrounded only by look alike folks. The key became how to experience this from a place of openness, authenticity and vulnernability.

The opening came from my personal life, during a rare occasion when my husband and I were not seeing eye to eye. Not being a fan of conflict, historically I removed myself from any uncomfortable situation instead of working through the discomfort. This particular disagreement lasted days, and I was incredibly sad. I gathered for a glass of wine with a girlfriend, and began to recount how utterly wrong David was in the incident that had occurred a few days earlier.

To my surprise, my friend Heather educated me that the vast majority of moments are experienced by my subconscious mind, filing away most stimulation into existing patterns of behavior that were neurologically created during my developmental years. Less than ten percent of what I experience is actually processed by my conscious mind, in real time. Heather continued to explain that David was having a very different experience, based on his biases, upbringing and neurological pathways. He was seeing something totally different than me.

I sat with this new awareness the entire drive back home, contemplating that while I was seeing one truth, he was seeing another. As I reconnected with David upon my return, instead of pulling away from a discussion about our disagreement, I leaned in. Asked questions. Listened. And paused.

Sure enough, my husband interpreted the “fight” from a completely different angle. As he explained his lens, and it made perfect sense. No wonder he was feeling the way he was feeling.

Instead of putting on my sneakers and removing myself from the discomfort of disagreement, I shared what I was thinking those few days earlier. He actively listened as well, and nodded his head. He too could now understand how I came to the conclusion I had.

Ultimately we never actually agreed who was right or wrong, never resolved the differences we approached the situation from. But what we did learn was how to be true to ourselves, open and respectful to the opinion of others, and to have the courage to potentially widen our awareness through the discomfort of not being aligned.

This incredible lesson came with me to all lanes of my life. Being in many, many rooms where I felt very alone, instead of being mad at everyone for not being more like me… I paused. Listened. Asked questions. Pondered. And if I was invited to share my thoughts, I shared them concisely, from a place of love. Not to change the minds of those others, but instead to simply be comfortable in my own skin.

From this lesson, I now sometimes stay in the room, continuing to partner with those who look nothing like me. Other times I am inspired to leave the room, potentially sit alone for a while, or attract energetic connections with others who more resemble me. Regardless, I celebrate the divine uniqueness of us all. We are all supposed to look and feel different. That is what makes the unique tapestry of now. How boring it would be if we all looked and acted the same.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am inspired to reconnect people with the beauty of the present moment, and to rediscover the health, happiness and abundance already living inside of them. Be here now. Reconnect with the love that is already inside of you. In today’s world, our culture has become obsessed with obtaining our joy outside of self. If only I had that car. If my spouse would stop doing that. If I had a different job, or more money in the bank. What gerbil wheel have we placed ourselves on, sprinting as fast as we can to finally find satiation and wholeness? Through my two books (Her Phoenix Rising and be. love. ), I support the awakening to the unique, divine purpose for being alive today. And help folks remember who they really are. Not the story we have made up for ourselves. Not the person we feel we ought to be. Who we truly, actually are. These two books reflect on my personal journey back to self, and shed light on a path that is available to each and every one of us.

I have also been blessed to share this message from the TedX stage, from the national speaking stage, and by the grace of many beautiful souls who have hosted me virtually on their platforms. It would be an honor to partner with you to spread the love, connecting via www.ChristinCollins.com.

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?

1. Enthusiasm: When I get excited about something, it literally pours from every cell of my body. Not only am I lit up about it, but it tends to attract others to explore as well! This has deeply impacted my journey. By pursuing avenues based on how they make me feel, instead of being led by how much they pay, or further my credentials, or make others feel, I show up from a deep place of authenticity. I genuinely go within, and feel if something is a Hell YES, or Hell no. And if I cannot feel either, I pause until it becomes clear. Being excited about life and how I am experiencing it always leads me down a path that blossoms, including any twists and turns that help me grow. Pro tip to best develop connecting with what brings you joy: instead of constantly being in motion, take a deep breath and just be. Do that a few more times, with even more vigor. The best way to connect with your passion and purpose is to center yourself through breath, and feel what bubbles up!

2. Kindness: There have been thousands of people who have deeply impacted my life. A few for decades, others for a split second. Some in person, some in virtual community. Grace and kindness are fundamental in my journey, and make my soul feel amazing. Letting someone go ahead of me in line when clearly they feel they need to. Offering to shed light on someone else’s work, helping them connect with impactful influence. Listening actively without trying to solve. Looking deep within the eyes of anyone I happen to meet. And definitely saying Thank You. Noticing and thanking others along the path. Kindness from the heart is an incredibly tranquil place to live from. Not to mention, it attracts other acts of kindness right back like a boomerang. Pro tip on kindness: Try it! Anywhere and as ofter as you can. It is free, and immediately accessible to all. And watch what experiences you start attracting. High vibing energy attracts high vibing energy!

3. Letting Go: I used to be such a control freak! I was always right, always had to lead, always had to control my environment, always judging everyone around me. WOW. Did I have that wrong! While I definitely attracted and created cool and powerful experiences from this space, I have learned that I am limiting my life by willing my way through it. And I made myself really sick from this perpetual fight or flight mode that I constantly generated. The skill of experiencing the moment, and being open to its infinite interpretations instead of the default I think is the best, has opened up opportunities that I could never have dreamed of. Especially the ones that don’t work out. Sometimes I realize they would not have been the right path for me. Other times they come back to me with more depth and meaning because of the time that elapsed. Regardless, letting go of trying to control everything has opened up my journey to heights never before dreamed of. Pro tip re Letting Go: Remember, everyone has their own unique journey that they are on. It’s not our job, nor our right, to control the journey of others. When we find ourselves trying to control something, pause and internally ponder; “that’s so interesting!”. I giggle every time I do this. It’s not mine to judge, or solve. Or drag around like a ball and chain. Show up the best that I can, and LET. IT. GO.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I cherish collaboration! Nothing brings my heart more joy than to be in community with others who are on their path back to self. Anyone who is open to co-creating energy around self-love, actualization or awareness. Individually or in group. Personally or professionally. I am blessed to partner with professional organizations, corporations, book clubs, life coaches, influencers, church groups, all walks of life. In person or virtually. The more we can convene energy around healing and self-love, the more we can raise our cultural experience. If interested in exploring collaboration, please connect via www.ChristinCollins.com, and let’s explore!

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Image Credits

Megan DiPiero Photography

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