One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been learning how to love and believe in myself fully, loudly, and unapologetically. For a long time, I struggled with self-esteem. I was the girl who knew she had something to say but questioned if anyone would actually listen. I didn’t always trust my own voice. I’d dim my light to avoid making others uncomfortable or to fit into spaces that were never designed with me in mind.
As a Black woman, I had to unlearn so many of the norms that were handed to me. I had to let go of the idea that strength meant silence, that being likeable meant being small, and that success had to look a certain way. I have walked away from relationships (romantic, professional, and even personal) that required me to shrink myself in order for someone else to feel big. That was never sustainable.
It took a long time, but I reached a point where I decided I wouldn’t let anyone else set the bar or define my worth. I started validating myself, celebrating myself, and giving myself the affirmation I once sought from others. That shift changed everything. Once I found my voice, I couldn’t be quiet about the things that matter. I stopped waiting for permission to take up space and now, through my work, I help others do the same.
Once I stopped shrinking and started showing up as my full self, I realized just how powerful that could be, not just for me, but for others who needed that same permission. I began writing what I needed to hear when I was younger. My books, affirmation cards, and programs are rooted in the belief that we are worthy, we are whole, and we deserve to take up space without apology.
By healing and affirming myself, I was able to extend that healing outward. Black Boys Deserve Flowers Too and Pretty Pretty Black Girl came from a place of wanting Black children to know their worth from the very beginning. I wanted them to hear affirmations, see themselves reflected in beautiful ways, and feel empowered just as they are.
I also create affirmation cards for both Black men and Black women, because we all need reminders of our value. For so long, our communities have carried the weight of silence and survival. My work is about breaking that cycle. It’s about helping people unlearn the belief that their worth depends on how others see them and giving them tools to build self-trust, confidence, and love from the inside out.
One of the biggest improvements needed is better support for Black authors and literacy programs that specifically serve Black children. My books should be in every school, not just because they’re my books, but because representation in literature matters. We need funding, grants, and programs that make it easier for authors like me to get these stories into classrooms and libraries.
For the Black community, mental health resources need to be more accessible, affordable, and culturally relevant. There’s still a stigma around therapy and vulnerability in our community, and while we’re making progress, we need to keep pushing those conversations forward. That’s why I’m passionate about using affirmations as an entry point sometimes, all it takes is one phrase, one reminder, for someone to see themselves differently.
On a broader level, I think we need to keep dismantling the idea that we have to shrink ourselves to be accepted. That can start with how we raise our children, the books we read to them, the books they read, the messages they hear, and the spaces we create for them to thrive.
Believe it or not, some of the most meaningful moments for me have nothing to do with accolades or going viral. It’s hearing my kids say, “My Mommy wrote that,” with a big smile on their faces. They are a constant reminder of why I do this. I’m showing them what’s possible, that their voices matter too.
I’m also very grateful for the unwavering support of my friends and family. There’s something deeply powerful about seeing your parents and grandparents sitting in the audience at one of your book events, watching you live out a dream they helped plant and nurture. I’m able to do what I do because they loved me deeply and poured so much into me, and I’m just grateful it wasn’t in vain. That their love and sacrifices weren’t wasted. That it all meant something.
Of course, the viral moments have been incredible, knowing my work is resonating on such a large scale and being shared by people I admire is still surreal. But the biggest milestone for me has been realizing that I’m finally walking in my purpose. I’ve written 8 books, created two affirmation card decks, and developed a wide range of mental health-centered resources, and all of it flows from the gifts God gave me. I’m doing what I was created to do, and as cliché as it might sound to some people, for me, that’s the most powerful milestone of all.
There’s still a stigma around therapy and vulnerability in our community, and while we’re making progress, we need to keep pushing those conversations forward.
I’m a Disruptor because I refuse to shrink. I refuse to let the world tell me, or any of us, who we’re allowed to be. I challenge the systems, the silence, and the expectations that were never built with us in mind. I create space for Black people to feel seen, heard, valued, and affirmed because, for too long, we’ve been told to be quiet, to be small, to stay in line.
I disrupt by telling our stories with honesty, softness, and strength. I celebrate our joy, our complexity, and our pride loudly. I don’t just create books or affirmation cards, I create mirrors. I build platforms that reflect the beauty of who we already are, and reminders of who we’re becoming.
Being a Disruptor isn’t about being loud just to be loud. It’s about making room. Making change. And making sure the people coming behind me know they never have to wait for permission to shine.
Brianna Laren is a writer who not only creates stories but also transforms lives. Her journey is one of purpose, and her brand is synonymous with empowerment, resilience, and the celebration of Black excellence. With each page turned in her books, readers embark on a journey of self-discovery and affirmation, finding strength and beauty in their own stories.
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