Meet Faith Fossett

We recently connected with Faith Fossett and have shared our conversation below.

Faith, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

You know, I thought I’d have a pretty straightforward answer, but the more I thought about my response, the more complex and layered it became. While pondering, I discovered that my self-esteem and confidence are directly connected to joy. This kind of joy flourishes when I am 100% my authentic self. A happiness and freedom wash over me, increasing confidence in my own worth. As a result, that level of confidence opens a door to pure unabashed honesty and vulnerability. It takes a lot of shaking to bring down such a solid mountain. I don’t speak with arrogance, but a reassuring thought, “Even if the world jolts and quakes with unpredictability…I will not become lost. I am confident because I’ve rooted myself in the knowledge that I know who I am. And because I know myself, I’ll tell you now that I’m about to get passionate regarding this topic. Hold tight, I have some thoughts I’d love to share…and maybe you’ll connect with a few.
I started wondering about this idea of pure honesty and vulnerability, and it got me thinking about my childhood. I was reminded of a little story. My mom once told me that when I was four years old, I jumped onto the coffee table with my frizzy red hair in foam-rollers, my plump little figure stuffed into a pink and purple striped leotard and proceeded to sing at the top of my lungs. For no one in particular, of course. I like to imagine what was going on in my head at the time. Maybe something like, “Oh, you know what’s a good idea…?” or, “I feel amazing in these colors right now,” or (my favorite), “There is something I absolutely must do and if I don’t share it with the world right now I’m going to explode!” But, regardless of the reason for my leotard exhibition, that day was one of many similar days I was blessed with as a child. My mother was extremely pro-confidence building when it came to her children, and I will be forever grateful. I was never discouraged from being silly, loud, adventurous, or expressive. I’m sure my mother wasn’t thinking about the science, or trends, or childhood development lingo behind her parenting style, but I do know (because she’s reminded me many times) that early on she decided, “I just want my kids to be themselves.” Simple words. Simple idea. Right? Being yourself = Inner peace and joy = Confidence in one’s own worth.

When we, adults, see a child openly expressing enthusiasm or wonderment for the world around them, we think, “They’re being a kid. They’re innocent and young, and naturally full of joy.” Unless you’re a mean person, I don’t think anyone genuinely wants to destroy a child’s joy, or happiness. Haven’t we all heard about how important it is to their development? But hold on… when we “grow up” we usually find that same society, who once supported our uninhibited self-expression and creativity, telling us to reel it in. Yet, what happens when we start trying to hide ourselves away? Over time we lose sight of who we are, and then… our confidence floats on out the door. Well, what did we expect? We had nothing to ground us! We lost the joy and freedom to just be ourselves.
This has me thinking about the times I’ve heard, “No one is original anymore…” Like everyone is just shuffling around wearing recycled personalities. Well…it’s because we have little actual support after childhood to continue appreciating our worth, abilities, and qualities. We’ve all met someone who is so obviously uncomfortable being themselves. Maybe they assume we won’t like them? We see this and might call it “being fake.” Honestly, I think “fake” people aren’t even sure who they are anymore. But we all feel that pressure when we reach adulthood: we’re expected to be serious, responsible, and totally chilled out, but guess what!? We can still be responsible adults who contribute to society and pay our bills! What if we all chose to be brave and show the world that it’s possible to be both joyfully self-expressive and grown-up?

I’m not suggesting cruel people just “lean into” their harsh treatment of others. I’m describing a human being’s natural hunger for joy in our world, and a quest to capture it and contribute to it while not losing sight of who we are. Maybe it’s as simple as that! This is, of course, how kids naturally behave, but they’re not overthinking it. And those kids, the ones who are given free rein to get-out-there-and-eat-it-up, those kids are SO confident! A four-year-old couldn’t care LESS about what you think of them. It’s not on their radar. Can you imagine what our world would be like if that spark wasn’t snuffed out, and these confident kids grew up to respect and support each other’s differences? The ripple effect would be beautiful.
I do believe that, if planted at a very young age, much like language, the seeds of self-esteem will grow and grow into something powerful and persevering; helping a person to bounce back faster after a gouge to their self-worth. Maybe someday there will be less bullying in middle school if all children are encouraged to “just be yourself and, likewise, love other peoples’ differences!” I know it might sound like a tall order of sparkling optimism because, surprise, we can’t control the way other people raise their kids. But, I’m a mom now, YAY! So, that means I get to build confidence in my child. By doing this I hope he grows and shows love and acceptance to the other kiddos on the playground, and thus, encourages his peers’ confidence and self-esteem. If every day, we tell kids, “Hey, you are important, and we love the things that make you who you are,” then… maybe that protective armor would help them withstand the push and pull of a fickle world.

Now, I’m not ignorant to the very real fact that trauma and abuse can diminish one’s self-esteem. I experienced a massive blow to my self-worth after the pain of pregnancy loss and then again when I suffered from severe postpartum anxiety. I believed my own body was sabotaging me and working against me. Like, how dare my lady body do this to me after all our years together?? There were (metaphorical) gremlins whispering to me that I was alone in this pain, floating in a black void with no end. I believed I was doing everything wrong, I was worthless, stupid, a terrible mother, a monster. But, thankfully, thankfully, thankfully, through therapy and hard work I hacked my way through the emotionally draining jungle that was a postpartum nightmare. I emerged the other side a stronger woman. A confident warrior. I found joy again.

This joy influences all areas of my life. My work is primarily in the theatre arts, where an artists’ confidence determines how much heart they’re willing to reveal in order to achieve truthful storytelling. What I’ve discovered is this: a healthy self-esteem leads to an ease with vulnerability, and vulnerability leads to deeper truths and more meaningful connections with people. It hits me in the gut when I meet someone with body language that says, “I’m so sorry for breathing.” I want to shake them and shout, “Hey! Your worth is great, and I’m so glad you’re here!” My definition of a healthy self-esteem would read something like: “The brave act of living 100% as one’s authentic self, and trusting the joy that comes from such courage, while opening one’s heart to unabashed honesty and vulnerability.”
Ok, friends, here are a few final thoughts for all of us to consider:
Be bold, be confident, and be willing to admit that you’re an imperfect human.
Be kind. Be loving. Live your life because no one else is going to do it for you. No one else has the right.
Many confident people are arrogant, and many arrogant people hide low self-esteem.
Be generous and spread joy. A compliment is more than a simple confidence boost. It has the power to connect people and confirm that they’re not alone in this world.

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

I’m a multidisciplinary artist with a passion for the theater arts. I’m a stage actor, and I love to compose music and write fiction. Since 2020 I’ve completed a few commissioned art projects for homes and businesses, and I recently started sound designing for theatre. The last show being an outdoor production of “As You Like It,” directed by my husband, and we took our enthusiastic toddler to every rehearsal! I also thoroughly enjoy actor coaching and working with people to build confidence with their singing voices. My focus is always healthy singing and embracing an individual’s natural gifts and talents. When I coach singers, I tell them, “Don’t try to impress me. Don’t try to sound ‘pretty.’ Don’t think you need to sing like a current popstar.” I’ve made it my job to encourage other actors and singers to be fearless and take risks and embrace what they have and where they are with their skills. I believe it’s more emotionally moving to watch an artist who has embraced who they are and allows us to see them as an honest and vulnerable human being. I surround myself with a creative community who feel the same way I do about the purpose of the arts, and who want to nurture positivity and inclusion. I believe that art is about connecting humans, revealing truths, educating, and giving people the permission and freedom to share a cathartic experience.
Speaking of connecting humans, oh my goodness…I’m excited to share some news. I’ll be acting in two inspiring stage productions this season at 4th Wall Theatre Company. In November I’ll be performing in Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” and in February 2026 I’m back on stage for the regional premiere of Meghan Kennedy’s “The Counter.” Both plays have similar themes to what I’ve been talking about in this interview. The main being: human connection and vulnerability. I hope you can make it to the theatre this season!

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

COMMUNICATION
My dad made sure I grew up knowing how to give a strong handshake and eye contact when meeting and talking to people. For some, these actions make them feel uncomfortable because it requires a moment of vulnerability. It takes practice, but the simple acts of a handshake or eye contact can speak volumes about your self-esteem, especially on first impression. Past job interviews have gone very well because I used these skills. When someone gives me a good handshake (not a limp fish, fingertips only, or death grip), I immediately think, “Yup, this is a confident person.” And eye-contact…very important! Also, there’s a scale. Zero is not enough, and staring is a bit much. I want the person I’m conversing with to know I respect them enough to give them my full attention, so that means I won’t be looking at the floor, at my fingernails, over their shoulder, or at my phone. As a society we should help build these skills in our young people. I’ve worked with a lot of 13–18-year-olds in the theatre arts, and at the end of the day I go around and thank them individually, with eye contact. It amazes me how uncomfortable they get, but I don’t move on to the next person until they look me in the eyes. When they do, something incredible happens. Their expression changes and a curious, subtle confidence appears. It’s as if I’m finally seeing them. It fills my heart with joy! In that moment it’s like all the noise from the world stops, and in those two seconds they see how much I value them, their time and focus, and their creativity.

GUMPTION
I’m sure most of us have heard the phrase “You’ve got nothing to lose.” It usually pertains to someone on a personal journey of sorts, who has tried literally every tactic to achieve their goal but finds only loss and rejection at every corner. So…they go all in for that final attempt because, well, they have nothing else to lose.
But, what if…instead of waiting until the end of our journey, when we’re discouraged and worn out and feeling negative, we went all in from the beginning? I’m not talking about gambling. I’m talking about gumption. Roll out the confidence because You. Are. Exceptional. Why wait to make connections, fix problems, or share your ideas with the world? Life is too short! If you have a project waiting to be nurtured and realized, go apply for those big grants! If you need a supportive community, then find it or create it! And if you fail, is it really failure or just another step closer to your goal? If there is one thing I learned from battling post-partum anxiety it’s this: change will not happen if I just sit here on my butt. I woke up one day and said, “Enough is enough! I am sick of feeling like this!” and I called my doctor that day. Calling her felt like I was admitting failure, but… she praised my courage for taking the first step and picking up the phone.
Move the determination from your final attempt to your first.

SELF-CARE
Sometimes we just need to stop and get out a coloring book. I think it’s important to recognize when to step back, take a break, and recharge. If we give ourselves a moment to unplug and maybe… doodle, or color a picture, then it gives our mind a moment to settle and refocus. What works for me? I’ve found many great ideas and answers to problems during a simple right brain activity like coloring. Let the air out, take the pressure off, and hopefully your brain will have sorted through the beautiful chaos, and you’ll find what you’re looking for!

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

TIME! There is not enough of it. I am always running out of it. I want more. If you have any to spare, please send it my way.
I made a recent discovery that most of the women in my family are night owls. Like, we stay up late after everyone is asleep just to enjoy the quiet and the space all to ourselves. BUT this means I am very cranky and irritable in the morning. I spend the first few hours of the day just trying to wake up when I could be moving and grooving at a much faster pace. So, in an attempt to release myself from the fear that “I’ll never have time to myself,” I now plan ahead for days/time during the week that are just mine and have zero involvement with job or home. Like… me, alone, with a book, at the local coffee shop. I’m getting more sleep, and I harbor less resentment towards mundane tasks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.faithfossett.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCb3PIUlQP713BL2rumT10g
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/faithfossett
• Other: https://www.4thwalltheatreco.com/season-15-preview

Image Credits

Gabriella Nissan Photography
Lee Rayment Photography