Alexis Chavez shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Alexis, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think people struggle with being real and true to themselves. I think there’s a difference between reading the room and code switching vs straight up being performative and changing up who you are depending on who you’re around. I think people will really show you who they are when you have no power and can’t offer them anything.
I think we’re all taught to compete from an early age because competition makes money in a capitalistic society and, as a result, we lose who we are and what truly makes us happy. We spend so many years thinking we’re in a race not knowing who we are and not being happy for ourselves and not being happy for others.
Additionally, I think that’s also why authentic friendships and genuine romantic relationships are hard to find— people just aren’t being real. I can go on about this but I’ll keep this short and to the point.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alexis. I don’t have a brand or organization. I have a podcast and it’s not really a business or a brand, but I think it’s interesting because I like to interview community oriented people. To me community is a real important word and feeling. I try to reflect that in my podcast. I like talking a lot, so some episodes are just banter with people I love, some episodes are listening to people share an inspiring story, and other episodes are allowing entrepreneurs and creatives share their journey. I don’t really have a focus on this podcast other than community.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I think the world expected and more or less told me to be a stereotype. I’m a Latina, so my intersections are being a person of color and a woman. I always felt like not much was or is expected from me in this world other than following rules and having children. Before I had this realization, I was a nice, quiet, rule follower, who always struggled in school, but loved to sleep, eat, sing, paint, dance, create, and hangout with my dog.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I think it’s taught me how resilient I am and how much capacity humans have for suffering. If I constantly had success and an easy life, I doubt I’d push myself as much as I have. Sometimes I overdo it and need to learn how to chill but I truly value life. Sometimes I hate life but most times I love it or like it at least. I have hope and a good sense of humor so that keeps me going. Things have to get better right? Right!?!
The way I see it, if I “fail” at something, I can choose to stay stuck, bitter, and unmotivated or I can move on, take my lessons, and get better. A lot of people’s problem is that they’re competing with other people who aren’t competing with them and in reality they should be competing with themselves to just be better. And not just be better financially but be better as a person. Be kinder, more honest, more considerate, less judgmental, healthier, like truly be a better version of yourself.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yup! I realized recently, that there are going to be people that just don’t like me and that’s okay. It’s not my responsibility to over explain myself to make people like or understand me. Most times those are the people who choose to misunderstand me because they just don’t want to like me to begin with—and that’s not my problem. The people that do like me are my people. They actively try to understand me, accept me, help me, and give me grace. This mindset has really helped me stay consistent with just being myself.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What light inside you have you been dimming?
I would say I’m dimming my creativeness because right now my priorities are work and school. I use my podcast as an outlet for some creativity but social media and negativity have made it exhausting to be consistent.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ImBeingSeriously
- Youtube: @ImBeingSeriously
- Other: Spotify and Apple Podcasts: I’m being seriously
Image Credits
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