In this article, I describe the importance of a good community, healthy relationships, and what benefits can be experienced when you simply place yourself in spaces of growth, influence, and positivity.
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In 2020, I was at my lowest. A change needed to happen, and where I started was community. Changing who I surrounded myself with was the greatest blessing.
Tiara Best · In Her Own Words
In Conversation
Tiara Best for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Tiara Best: So to me, being an influential woman looks like having words, having actions that carry weight and authority, and with that weight and authority brings impact.
What does being an Influential Woman mean to you?
Tiara Best: So to me, being an influential woman looks like having words, having actions that carry weight and authority, and with that weight and authority brings impact. Um, my words, my actions have the ability to shift organizations, to shift realities, to shift whatever is around me in order to make a change for the best.
So being an woman, someone that carries influence is more than who I am and what I bring, but what change can be made through me, it's a humbling honor to be called an influential woman, but it makes me realize that this purpose, in life, at least for me, is bigger than me,What's one piece advice would you give to younger women chasing their dreams?
Tiara Best: One piece of advice I would give to younger women chasing their dreams is to find out, discover what you value, because oftentimes what we value very much with our careers. So having those core values helps you to have a compass to live by, and to work, and in Integrity and in purpose in whatever profession you pick. It gives you purpose, it gives you meaning and allows you to make a bigger impact when you know who you are and what you bring. And those values can help you even figure out what you want to do. So, um, remember that your dream is bigger than you and figure out your why.
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Her Story
About Tiara
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tiara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith and a deep passion that started with writing, which continues to bring comfort and hope to others today. This passion also led me to create Table Talk during my time in college. Table Talk was platform designed to foster meaningful conversations and address the impact of religious trauma and topics that are important to young adults. In addition to this work, I volunteer with Shepherd’s Table, supporting individuals in need, and worked with Young Life, where I mentored students as they navigate real-world transitions in and beyond school. I am especially appreciative of the guidance and influence of Professor Dr. Olive Hemmings, whose mentorship was instrumental in directing me to chaplaincy and shaping my professional path.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to remember that things don’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. Have patience, focus on what you can control in the moment, and trust the process. Success is not just about reaching the destination, it is about embracing the journey, learning from each step, and growing along the way.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life stem from my passion for psychology and my commitment to fulfilling my God-given purpose of making a meaningful impact on others. I believe in using my knowledge and experiences to inspire, support, and uplift those around me, staying true to my purpose of touching lives in ways that foster growth, healing, and hope.
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The Importance of Healthy Relationships and Supportive Community
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was another pandemic on the rise—one of loneliness.
Even before the coronavirus, loneliness was already considered a “major public health risk,” according to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Given this unfortunate reality that continues to plague not just America (as noted by Harvard’s Graduate School of Education) but the world, it’s said that approximately half of American adults experienced loneliness even before the outbreak. The pandemic simply exacerbated what was already there.
Often, in hurt and pain, isolation feels easier. We isolate to wallow in our pain or to distract ourselves from realities we’d rather not face. Yet when I think of emotions, I think of a sponge. A sponge fills with soap and water—but one day, it becomes saturated, and someone has to squeeze it.
We may think we’re managing our emotions by naming them, yet we often cast them aside as if they have no influence on our daily lives. Still, that inner sponge keeps absorbing until one day, it can’t hold any more—and everything we’ve been carrying begins to pour out.
I bring this up because isolation is a close companion of loneliness. Do not be mistaken—solitude is necessary; we don’t want to grow overly dependent on others. But there’s deep importance in gathering with those who support, advise, and journey with us through life’s joys and unexpected turns.
Creating spaces of grace—for ourselves and for those we commune with—is essential. We will fail, and others will fail us, too. Yet what makes a bond last is first love: a shared commitment to the vision of what both parties desire. This isn’t reserved only for romance; it’s just as true in friendship, community, and group relationships.
So I ask: Do you have a community? Who pours into you? Who do you pour into?
A healthy community is a space where growth can happen—because the communities we inhabit often act as rooms of mirrors. Not only do we share similar growing edges, but in authentic connection, both flowers and weeds emerge. Beauty and imperfection coexist. Growth happens only when we can name both—the beauty and the pain. Growth happens when we communicate, no matter how big or small the issue seems.
It can be discouraging to experience the thorns that arise in relationships, but communicating our needs in a way that acknowledges our own feelings while also considering the well-being and growth of others offers hope for healthier relationships over time. The greatest aspect of all is commitment—commitment to the relationship, to growth, and to selfless love.
Remember: though our sponge may not be full yet, it will be one day. Wouldn’t you rather learn to recognize when it’s time to squeeze?
A sponge can help wash dishes—but it can also create a slippery floor. Which reality will you choose?
Source: Ross, E. M. (2024, October 25). What is causing our epidemic of loneliness and how can we fix it? Usable Knowledge, Harvard Graduate School of Education. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/24/10/what-causing-our-epidemic-loneliness-and-how-can-we-fix-it
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