Facing Uncertainty After a Stroke
When I emerged from a month-long hospital stay after I experienced a major stroke, I found myself uncertain of my new world and my place in it.
 
The world hadn’t changed, but I had. The uncertainty was about whether I could pick up the pieces and move on with my new brain injury-related disability.
 
You know that feeling when you walk into a room and realize you don’t remember why you walked in? After the massive stroke I experienced, I felt like I came to this planet, but couldn’t remember what for. It was very awkward and very unpleasant at times.
 
I wasn’t quite confident my new self could navigate through the old world where I had been quite comfortable with myself and my abilities. I was quite sure I could do it if I could just face the challenges to come with my old confidence and self-assurance.
 
But how was I ever going to do it in my new disabled state? After a short readjustment phase, I found the answer.
 
The Power of Acting Confident
I remembered the advice from my younger years that had served me well throughout my previous life, from a (then) well-known actor.
 
In an interview he was asked about overcoming stage fright and what he did to get over it. His answer was to just act like someone with confidence.
 
It sounded kind of simplistic, but that really struck a chord; it sounded right to me. I took that bit of wisdom to heart and ran with it. It got me through a lot of awkward situations.
 
And now here I was in one heck of an awkward situation, being a stroke survivor with an acquired traumatic brain injury.
 
Visualization and Self-Programming
I can tell you what I did, and that it worked for me (again). I can’t guarantee the same result for anybody else, but if I could do it, anybody should be able to.
 
I would lie in bed at night with my eyes closed and tell myself I would face the world with complete confidence, in all situations, and no matter what.
 
I would also visualize myself in different situations acting with complete confidence. I picked someone I admired and kind of “programmed” myself to behave in the manner he modeled. I couldn’t be him, so I had to come up with my version of how he behaved. I visualized carrying myself with confidence, poise, and self-deprecating humor.
 
I also visualized people telling me they had noticed how I approached situations with calm and poise. In my head I “overheard” people making comments about me in that vein.
 
I formed a kind of image in my head of coming off as smart, funny, approachable and fun to be around. I could do that, I thought; I could see a mental image of myself being that way. But I knew deep inside I would always basically be an introvert and still be living in my head.
 
Visualization and Self-Programming
I try to strike a balance between being bashful and socially confident: I learned all over again to be an extroverted introvert (psychologists call a person like this an ambivert).
 
In other words, though I was still often painfully introverted, I could be extroverted when the situation required it.
 
Before long, it was common for people to tell me that if they hadn’t already known I’d experienced a massive stroke, they would never have guessed it.
 
I would say that one of the most important things to remember about acting confidently is don’t overdo it; don’t overcompensate. And keep it realistic. Outwardly become the person that lives inside you—don’t try to be something you could never realistically hope to be.
 
Psychological Concepts on Confidence
That leads to two more concepts, both from psychology. They’re known as the Dunning-Kruger effect and impostor syndrome.
 
The Dunning-Kruger effect concerns how people rate their own competence. People with lower levels of competence often overestimate their competence, while highly competent people often  underestimate theirs. In my mind, the ones who overestimate themselves are likely more on the obnoxious end of the scale, while those who underestimate themselves tend to be more likely to lack confidence and hold themselves back.
 
The Dunning-Kruger effect has its critics, but I pretty much agree with the simplified interpretation I just laid down here. It just intuitively feels right to me.
 
The other concept is called the impostor syndrome.
 

​CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
The 2022 Statewide DEI Summit Planning Committee needs your help to host a successful event. We know that many employees across the state are passionate about the summit and would like to contribute. We specifically need your help in moderating DEI Summit sessions. As a moderator, you will play an important role in ensuring that the conference is a success by attending various sessions, and helping the presenters and participants have a great experience.

​Qualifications

• Comfortable speaking publicly in front of large audiences
• Comfortable being seen and leading a zoom meeting 
• Familiarity with Zoom webinar functions

​Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968), was a man of great integrity, values, and principles. If alive today, Reverend Dr. King would be 92 years old. Leading the effort toward social justice and equality, Reverend Dr. King’s impact went beyond his local community to inspire change in America and the world. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

BUILD was present to witness the unveiling of the George Bush monument at the Capitol Campus on November 19. Though cold and overcast, dozens watched as remarks were given by members of the Washington State Historical Society, Representative Debra Entenman, and former Representative Eric Pettigrew.

Read about WSHS’ efforts to highlight Black history in Washington State
Read the WSHS press release about the George Bush monument
Read more about the monument on the DES website

BUILD was present to live stream the event on Facebook 

Take a moment to remember our 2020-2021 leadership.
​Thank you to Edwina Martin-Arnold for taking over for Phil White!

BUILD's new Chair is Sascha Nixon (left) and Co-Chair is Tyrone Jordan-Oliver (right)

Executive Assistants are La-Sandra Jones-Owens (left) and Yeni Castaneto (right)

BUILD HONORS AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT

March is Women’s History Month. The National Women’s History Alliance selects and publishes the yearly theme, and this year it is the same as last year: “Valiant Women of the Vote.” It is appropriate to carry this theme forward considering the historic role Black women played in the recent elections. This includes the election of Kamala Harris.  Harris is the first Black woman, the first Indian-American woman, the first person of Asian-American descent, and the first graduate of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to be sworn in as the Vice President of the United States. As she said in her acceptance speech, “(she) may be the first, but (she) will not be the last.”