We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Rosette-Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brittany, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I actually haven’t overcome imposter syndrome. What I am constantly doing is learning new skills to cope with my the feelings that come about when we experience imposter syndrome? For me, I started questioning why I felt like an “imposter”? What was contributing to me feel undeserving or unqualified? Once I started questioning and sitting with my emotions, rather than bury them, I could begin digging at the root of my issues. Whenever I do feel imposter syndrome I remind myself that I am worthy.
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?
I like to think of myself as a multi creative, advocating for the health, radical self-care and well-being of Black folks, with a hyperfocus on Black women. I am also the owner and curator of By Sunday Love Lifestyle Company. By Sunday Love Lifestyle Co. was born from a journey marked by profound grief, a journey that ultimately led to healing and a deep embrace of self-love. Through the compounded experiences of loss, I found solace and strength in the transformative power of love and self-care. By Sunday Love Lifestyle Co. stands as a testament to my personal journey, offering a space where healing, self-discovery, and love intersect to inspire others on their own paths to wellness and wholeness.
In May 2014, my mom unexpectedly passed away at the end of my sophomore year in college. To cope, I was always trying to find ways to combat intrusive thoughts. I decided one day that I would write affirming messages on sticky notes and put them on my bathroom mirror. Somewhere that I was forced to see them everyday. Honestly, I only partly believed the things I was writing down.
You have always been enough.
You are beautiful.
You are brave.
You matter.
Day after day – in and out of the bathroom I saw those messages. My grieving heart still grieved, but it started to get stronger. I started to affirm and pour into myself.
I have always been enough.
I am beautiful.
I am brave.
I matter.
As I built BSL Lifestyle Co. from idea to fruition I wanted the root of my business to be of affirmation and self love. Every order comes with a personal affirmation card to serve as a reminder to take care of you first.
This journey has been one of beautiful chaos – grief, grace, reckoning and love. My love for Sundays grew with me. To me Sundays always offer the opportunity to begin again. BSL currently has four functions (1) an online clothing and lifestyle boutique (2) hosting self care and community wellness workshops (3) providing period care and sexual wellness resources to community members and lastly, (4) supporting Black birthing people in Knoxville with our Bed Rest Fund in partnership with Silver Lining Produxtions.
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 over my journey, I would identify commitment to self care practice, passion, and perseverance. have been the most impactful. In the words of Outkast, “you can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather.” There is no perfect journey. And this reigns true in every facet of life. How will you move through disappointments, mishaps, and setbacks on your journey? I noted passion as an important quality because it has been the actual fire under me to pursue my dreams and goals. At the peak of social media and ever changing trends I think it is most important that folks who are early in their journey hold on tightly to their passion. Instant gratification is all around us and it may be appealing to do what you see is working for others. Hold tight to what you are being called to. Lastly, developing a self care practice is essential. It’s my belief that taking care of myself first will always be one of the most productive things I can do. It allows me to replenish and rest so that I can show up well in all areas of my life.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months has been centering myself in my world. I adopted principles of radical self care as an act of self preservation. For most of my life I prioritized the needs of others over mine with no regard or understanding of how that was actually shaping my experience, my health and well-being. As a Black woman, the importance of radical self-care cannot be overstated. I was incredibly exhausted and robotic and it was not until I took agency over my life that I began setting boundaries, protecting my space, and prioritizing my health. In the past 12 months I have developed a fitness regimen and resumed therapy. It is important to mention that it is a journey, it ebbs and flows, it is not perfect. You just have to keep showing up for yourself.
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Image Credits
1. Dorothy VanWright 2. Me at a community vision board party hosted by, By Sunday Love 3. Dorothy VanWright, Mary Jenkins, Tania Sapp, Ta’nia Walker, Briana Boatwright, me 4.Nandi Conteh 5. Dorothy and Louis VanWright
