Do you ever find yourself stuck in a box of other people’s expectations? Do you wish you could be true to yourself? Be bolder, more daring?
Then you could pick a leaf from Emmy award-winning actress, dancer, and film producer Laverne Cox. You probably know her from her role as Sophia Burset on Orange is the New Black or from her appearance as the first transwoman on the cover of TIME magazine. She has had dozens of on-screen roles and has also appeared on reality shows like I Want to Work for Diddy and TRANSform Me. She is a trailblazer in the civil rights movement for LGBTQ rights.
Her journey to success has been a difficult one. Despite this, she had the courage to live boldly as herself.
Here are 3 ways to live boldly like Laverne Cox:
1. Create Your Own Path
While there is value in being inspired by others, always look into yourself first. You do not have to take the same path as others around you just because it is expected. Laverne’s experience truly speaks to this as someone who was born in conservative Alabama and faced daily bullying as a child. She was ostracized for loving dance and other activities that didn’t fit the expected male behavior. Even with decades of resistance, she has pursued her love for the performing arts her whole life. Her dedication to individuality is even more apparent because she has an identical twin brother. Despite growing up with what must have been such a direct comparison in gender expectations, she lives her truth as a woman.
2. Keep Fighting
Laverne has been knocked down many, many times. The reason she’s here today is because she kept getting back up. As a child, she was bullied so mercilessly that she attempted suicide at age 11. As a college student undergoing a medical transition in New York, she was harassed on the subway on a near-daily basis. At the start of her career, she found it very difficult to get cast into roles because of the stereotypes against trans people in Hollywood. Even as recently as 2020, she experienced a hate attack in public. Despite all these injustices against her, she kept pushing forward.
3. Raise Others Up
It is important to do what you can within your means to advocate for those around you. Your boldness can inspire others to be bold as well. Laverne Cox has always been passionate about advocating for fellow trans people and black actresses through multiple interviews and speaking appearances. She directed two documentaries on the trans experience called The T Word and Disclosure. She has also frequently presented her lecture Ain’t I a Woman at colleges and she once wrote a column for Huffington Post. As you overcome your own struggle, ask yourself what you can do to prevent others from going through the unnecessary pain that you did.
Want to be like Laverne?
Let us know how you are living your life boldly.
“Living boldly is to live your life free of judgment and with purpose in the world. Own your passion. Walk your truth. Live without fear. Advocate your beliefs. Live life on your own terms. – Missy B.