Meet Brittany Edwards | Author & Creative Technologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany Edwards and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
“Don’t take no for an answer.” Sometimes, we really should. The art of listening to resistance is one of the most undervalued life skills.

Rejection is redirection– it’s a simple phrase we usually let in one ear and quickly out the other because we’re preoccupied with mourning our roadblocks. It’s usually chalked up to well intended advice for cheering someone up. But it’s a fundamental lesson to embrace and master.

Sometimes resistance and barriers happen not because we aren’t working hard enough or we’re not good enough, but because what we’re pursuing is just not for us. It could be for us, but maybe just not at this time. And we need to learn how to move into the space of accepting that if it isn’t for us, that’s okay too. What matters most is that we are in alignment with our path.

There are things we dream of from our hearts, there are the dreams we have to satisfy others, and there are the dreams we have because we’ve been taught to dream them. We often don’t take the time to sit with our list of boxes to check and understand the roots of our desires. That can lead us into the pursuit of things that strip our hearts of joy.

We’ve been taught to place our identities in the recognition we receive rather than in who we are, which can push us into decisions or opportunities that undermine our development towards the truest version of ourselves. In the worst cases, we let things that don’t define us take away our self worth.

Here’s a little bit of my story. I applied for a Fulbright Fellowship to South Africa in 2016 and didn’t make it past the preliminary round. At that moment, I started doubting my worth and all of my accomplishments. It felt like who I was fell flat through the paper application because I had to spend so much of my time during college working to pay my tuition. There was no extra time for me to find the cure for cancer. It felt like I was “competing” against all these people that had the time, opportunity, and privilege to fill their applications with impressive experiences. I started to let this rejection define my value, forgetting that I am never in competition with someone for an opportunity.

I took some time to reflect and infuse the next chapter of my life with more intention. In 2017, I applied to Fulbright again– but this time to Taiwan. My application passed the January semi-finalist round, then in March I was designated as an alternate recipient. I knew I wouldn’t apply to Fulbright again. For some reason the fellowship was not welcoming me with open arms. That was ok. After checking the cost of rent in Boston, I decided I needed to leave America. I sought opportunities to teach English in China. The interviewing and onboarding process were happening at an incredible speed and then, of course, I received a call. “Have you checked your email?” asks my stalwart advisor. I had been granted a Fulbright.

Fulbright in Taiwan specifically changed so much of my life. Because I lived in Taiwan for a year, I began writing for an online publication for black people who live in Asia. Sometime after that I connected with a publisher to author Taiwan: An Underrated Paradise.
[ Blending travelogue and guidebook, Taiwan: An Underrated Paradise chronicles a young black woman’s whimsical encounters with culture shock and the places and people she meets while living in Taiwan. Her venture reminds us what it means to explore— beyond the picture perfect moments and into the history of a place and the journey to self discovery.
The tail-end travel manual and itineraries encourage you to choose adventure, even if that means traveling alone.]

None of that would have happened if I received a Fulbright the first time, or if I continually pursued South Africa. What is for you, will be for you, exactly when it’s meant to be for you. That’s critical to keep in mind because it impacts the way you live life. Instead of thinking about resistance as something that’s foiling your plans, try thinking about it in the sense of just creating space for something better– something that’s in alignment with your path and purpose and filled with the greatest good for you. That’s something I wish someone had told me and that’s something I hope you keep in mind on your life’s journey.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My anthropological interests and genuine curiosity about people has led me to a career where I’m a professional listener of thoughts and translator of hearts. It’s only through the support of my community and dedication of a mentor that I was able to arrive in this fulfilling work space. Along the journey, I questioned numerous times whether this was for me and if I was listening to my heart. I ultimately came to a space of non-attachment where I was comfortable to embrace the pursuit of another career if too much resistance came in the way of my success. It is usually in those times of non-attachment, that the desires of my heart align with opening doors.

Website: https://amzn.to/3C9wfX1

Instagram: @_brittany_edwards_

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BRITTANYEDWARDS