Meet Christy Berghoef

We were lucky to catch up with Christy Berghoef recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christy, 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.

There are several occasions in my life where I have felt like an imposter. One in particular stands out. A few years ago I was invited to join a speaking tour and travel the country living on a tour bus with some of my favorite authors/speakers. I could in no way understand why anyone wanted me – a little known author with limited speaking experience – to join this group on stage. A couple things stand out as having really helped me overcome imposter syndrome.

First, after a couple weeks on the road I came to know these folks in a deeply personal way. When you’re living as a community in such a small shared space, it’s impossible for things to not get personal. This alone went a long way in helping me realize that regardless of the pedestal the world has put under their feet, they are ordinary people just like me. We shared similar hopes, fears, insecurities and struggles. Once I saw this so clearly, the mental wall came down and I was able to become friends with them. These relationships continue to this day as we support and encourage each other in our writing, in our work and in our life.

Another thing that helped me was simply learning to be comfortable in my own skin, comfortable in the story I was there to tell on stage. My story was mine, just like their stories were theirs. Each of us was able to connect with different people in the audience who resonated with our stories. My voice was different and equally as important as theirs. Understanding this gave me additional confidence and removed that barrier that told me I didn’t belong there.

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?

My work situation is non-traditional. I do a variety of things for work including writing, speaking, photography, leading civil discourse workshops, leading pilgrimages and contemplative retreats. There are a couple exciting things underway. I’m currently launching a new book, “Rooted: A Spiritual Memoir of Homecoming.” This is a book about moving home to the forty acres of my childhood, which happens to be in a particularly conservative area, after living out in the world where my views grew, stretched and expanded. It’s the story of navigating the struggles that come with not fitting in to a place that as well as rediscovering some of the really beautiful things about being home. This book is currently available for pre-sale on Amazon. My hope is to spend much of my time and energy over the next year focussed on sharing the story contained within these pages by way of a book tour, interviews, podcasts and various presentations and speaking engagements.

My prior book, “Cracking the Pot: A Spiritual Memoir of Expansion” is also getting a second life and will be released later this month as a new edition. This book is the story of the expansion of my views previously mentioned. It tells of the deconstruction of my faith and the careful rebuilding process that led to a more vibrant spirituality.

I’m also beginning to lead more contemplative retreats and pilgrimages and hope to expand on that in the years to come.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Curiosity and authenticity are a couple of the most important things that have impacted my journey. Being curious has allowed me to set aside my assumptions about people, cultures, human struggle and the Divine and truly lean in and listen in order to learn and better understand. Authenticity, is something I constantly strive toward. It keeps me grounded in who I am, in what my questions are, and it reminds me to stay rooted in grounding philosophies and foundational values.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed I push my body out the door and do one of two things: sit or move. Sometimes I sit on a meditation platform in the middle of my garden, quieting myself while doing deep breathing exercises and grounding myself back into a healthy perspective. And other times I lace up my trail running shoes and go for a good long run or hike on some local trails that wind through the forest, cross sand dunes and open up at a wild, unspoiled stretch of Lake Michigan. Getting the endorphins flowing and being out in nature does wonders for decluttering the mind and grounding my body and spirit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://christyberghoef.substack.com
• Instagram: christyberghoef
• Facebook: Christy Berghoef