An interview with Dr. Bharat Sangani
When comfortable, share your true self with others and act as if there is someone waiting and needing to hear how you have learned to do so.
In a world that often pressures us to fit in, embracing quirks and authenticity can become a unique advantage. Leaning into what makes you different, even if it feels awkward, can foster genuine connections and unlock personal empowerment. In this series, we would like to explore how embracing one’s true self can transform social interactions and become a powerful tool for building meaningful relationships. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Cornelia Gibson.
Dr. Gibson has called Solano County, California home for the past 45 years. She left a 23-year career in the telecommunications industry to pursue her passion for counseling and motivating others. Dr. Gibson has a BA, MA, and Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and the founder of Agape Counseling Center and Network in Fairfield, CA. Her motto is, “Life will bring us stressors, but it doesn’t have to bring us stress.”
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
I am number 4 of 5 siblings. I lived in Richmond, CA for the first 10 years of my life until my parents divorced. Months before I started junior high school or middle school as it’s called now, my mother moved us to Solano County, California. As if moving away from my father and my friends during my preteen years weren’t bad enough, making new friends in an unfriendly environment was when I noticed my awkwardness as pointed out by others. I was bullied, called many names, and constantly teased about many things. My adolescent years were absolutely horrible. After I graduated from high school, I became a teen mother and that’s when I started embracing my authentic self, awkwardness and all, because that’s how I wanted to show up for my daughter, as my true self. It was actually because of my own experiences, I became interested and determined to help and mentor others rather than becoming a representation of the negative teen mother stereotype.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person that you are grateful for, who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
There were a few people along the way who played a key role in getting me started in the field of psychology, but I credit Dr. Nathan Goodlow, a black psychologist, for planting the seed and inspiring me to go back to school. I must admit that until then, I didn’t know black psychologists existed. I had a lot to learn, literally.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
I would say, kind, caring, and nonjudgemental. I chose these three because they describe my true nature. I would also say these three characteristics were noticeably missing from people I encountered during my younger years. I give others what I think I needed. Besides the bullying I experienced at school, I had an encounter with a hospital staff member. My baby girl would get a lot of nose bleeds and the first and only time I sought advice and treatment for it, I was not believed to be her mother. Instead, I was told several times that I could be arrested for posing as her mother, rather than her sister. I must admit that I have always looked younger than my chronological age, this would have been the perfect time for the staff to be kind, caring, and nonjudgemental.
Ok, fantastic. Let’s now turn to the crux of our interview. Can you recall a moment when embracing your awkwardness led to a meaningful personal or professional breakthrough?
After becoming a mother, I had many experiences like the one at the hospital. I took motherhood very seriously. This is when I learned to embrace my awkwardness, endure the stares I would get seemingly for being a young mother. I endured the unsolicited advice, the name calling, the teasing, the bullying, just like high school. What shifted for you in that experience? Motherhood shifted my perception of myself and others. Motherhood made me question whether I was going to be that negative teen stereotype that others told me I would be, hinted I would be, and implanted in my head that I would be. Motherhood helped me to understand that anyone who had time to talk about me and my awkwardness probably weren’t worth listening to. What shifted for me was when I learned that I didn’t have to endure but rather I could embrace my awkwardness. I learned that what was most important was how I felt about myself. I learned to embrace every single thing about my awkwardness and show up authentically for my daughter. Being authentic is so freeing. I have perfected the art of being authentic in such a way that I no longer have to think about it. I show up authentic in and around the settings and people I choose to be involved with. In addition to showing up authentic with family, I love modeling authenticity in my role as therapist and clinical director.
Many people feel pressure to ‘fit in’ socially. What advice do you have for someone struggling to be their authentic self in a world that often rewards conformity? I’ve been there for a short period of time. My advice would be to love and embrace themself for who they are and slowly the need to conform will shrink.
How do you think embracing your quirks and imperfections can enhance connections with others, especially in professional or high-pressure settings?
To not embrace oneself, in my opinion, is a form of lying. I was told that when you tell one lie you must tell others to go along with the first one. Then you must remember the lies. That sounds like too much work just to fit in. What I found to be much easier and freeing was to love and embrace your imperfections. Whether people join you is their business. What I have learned is when I’m the first one in the room to acknowledge my quirks, it keeps me on the offense rather than the defense. Keep in mind that people will have their opinions whether we seek them or not. We, however, get to choose what we do with those opinions.
What role does vulnerability play in transforming awkwardness into a superpower? Can you share a time when showing vulnerability opened doors or strengthened relationships?
Yes, as an extra, extra introvert, yes I said that twice; I was recently asked to moderate an event on mental wellness. I allowed my excitement of the topic to outweigh my thoughts about how I might be perceived. At the very beginning of the event I publicly acknowledged that I would inevitably stumble over some of my words and no amount of advance preparation would help. I felt empowered, as if I had disarmed the audience by acknowledging one of my quirks before they undoubtedly noticed it. During that moment of self-disclosure or authenticity, I took one of my quirks and turned it into my superpower. But truth be told, the best part of the event was when someone came to me afterwards and thanked me for sharing. She said she was going to share my story with her daughter who was struggling with the same thing. You may never know how being vulnerable will help someone else.
What are “5 Ways To Embrace Your True Self”?
1. If you don’t already love yourself unconditionally, work with a professional to help you do so.
2. Ignore any chatter about your true self that doesn’t seem real to you.
3. If there are any parts of your true self that you don’t like or want to change, do so for yourself and not for anyone else.
4. If there are any parts of your true self that you don’t like and don’t want to change, love your quirks and all.
5. When comfortable, share your true self with others and act as if there is someone waiting and needing to hear how you have learned to do so.
Do you believe that celebrating awkwardness can inspire innovation and creativity?
Yes, absolutely. Once someone has learned, as I did, to embrace and prioritize their uniqueness, it leads to endless opportunities to think outside of the box and break free from the need to conform to someone else’s rules of innovation. How has staying true to yourself influenced your approach to problem-solving or leadership? Staying true to myself influenced my management approach by not just allowing others to do the same but hoping and expecting them to. This is where it is great to be caring, compassionate, and nonjudgemental of others. I might also add that this approach works well with problem solving within teams, as everyone knows their unique input is valued.
How can our readers further follow your work?
I can be found on Twitter and Facebook as DrCornelia.
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About The Interviewer: Dr. Bharat Sangani is a cardiologist and entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience, practicing in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Dallas, Texas. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, he specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and hypertension. In 1999, Dr. Sangani founded Encore Enterprises, a national real estate investment firm. Under his leadership, the company has executed transactions exceeding $2 billion, with a portfolio spanning residential, retail, hotel, and office developments. Known for his emphasis on integrity and fairness, Dr. Sangani has built Encore into a major player in the commercial real estate sector. Blending his medical and business expertise, Dr. Sangani created the Life is a Business mentorship program. The initiative offers guidance on achieving balance in health, wealth, and relationships, helping participants align personal and professional goals. Now based in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Sangani continues to
Awkward and Proud: Dr Cornelia Gibson On How Embracing Your True Self Can Be Your Social Superpower was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.