Therapist, speaker and pastor Cibele Brito presents Made for Women, a book that explores the challenges and potential of the female experience. The work addresses topics such as career, relationships, mental health and spirituality, encouraging readers to recognize their value and true happiness. With a light and reflective approach, Cibele uses archetypes and examples from everyday life to help women reconnect with themselves and strengthen their identity.
When you launched the book “Made for Women”, you delved into different female archetypes and personalities. What surprised you the most during this journey of reflection on the multiple universes that make up the female experience?
Immersing yourself in the many ways in which a woman lives and acts is wonderful. Women can do several things at the same time, and every time I think about it, I am surprised in a different way, precisely because I live this way too. Inside our brain, there are many boxes, and we can open several of them at the same time, such as resolving an issue at work; the outfit our child will wear on a special date; our partner’s birthday; the clothes to wash; the food on our diet; the time for self-care; helping our parents; the friend who is waiting for advice; the shoe we fell in love with and want to buy. Everything is running through our minds at once as we carry it out. Each experience is made up of actions that bring within them entire worlds, which constitute history, value, faith, identity, style and temperament. But, to carry out each action, it is necessary to be happy, fulfilled, balanced and a protagonist, among other archetypes.
The book covers topics such as career, relationships, mental health and spirituality. Which of these aspects do you think is the most challenging for women today? And why?
Mental health, of course. Even though women have the ability to handle several things at once, it doesn’t mean that they don’t feel pressure at different times in their many roles. There are many women who give in to mental overload when performing their multiple roles. Even though women of other generations have achieved many achievements, simply being a woman continues to be a challenge.
If your mental health is not in good shape, your career will not advance, your relationships will suffer many instability and there will be confusion in your spirituality, since it brings a special meaning to life. Where we apply our thoughts is what will guide our actions, so it is necessary to prioritize mental health. When you are not coping, it is essential to seek emotional support, because it will help to keep all other areas of your life in order.
You talk about the importance of recognizing your own identity and seeking real needs, away from idealizations and fads. Was there a moment in your career when you needed to reconnect with your essence? What was that experience like?
Yes, because I disagree with having to conform to other molds just to fit in certain places. I believe that we have to be where we are accepted just the way we are. I had a rather funny experience: when I came to the Christian faith, I went to an organization where everything was very different from my way of being, so in order to fit in and not stand out, I changed radically. But time went by and I matured and understood that this version that I created to meet the expectations of those around me did not reflect who I really was. Then a situation arose at the workplace, of opposition, along with destructive criticism and judgments that even came from another woman. That was when I started the journey back, reconnecting with my true self and recovering my essence. Ultimately, this event taught me a great lesson, which I carry with me to this day, and helps me to adapt to any place with authenticity.
One of the messages in your book is to encourage unity and understanding between women from different backgrounds. In your opinion, what still hinders this sisterhood and how can we cultivate more empathy in our daily lives?
In my opinion, the woman herself is the one who makes this union difficult for several reasons. Among them are rivalry and competition, about which I always say: if what we want is from someone else, we should choose something else to want. Therefore, education, the instructions received and the experiences lived count a lot, not to mention social networks that do not always show the true reality. To spread empathy, we must encourage women to stay away from unfair competition and unfounded judgments.
Another important factor is to encourage them to celebrate each other’s success, to find ways to share difficulties and, above all, to have support. Each woman should start with small changes in herself, understanding that when she lifts up another woman, she becomes stronger and shows that she has learned to love. This creates a multiplier effect of inspiration, encouraging others to act in the same way.
Your career includes experiences in the corporate world, in the beauty industry, in pastoral ministry and as a therapist. How did these different experiences contribute to the creation of “Made for Women”?
True, I have worked in these areas and continue to work in some of them. All of them contributed greatly to the creation of the book. Each of these experiences was lived in a remarkable and intense way, so I bring from them an experience that is equivalent to several faculties in practice.
I was very young in the corporate world, but it was a time of learning and new discoveries. I soon understood that I had a calling to work with women, and this was perfected with the opening of the beauty space, where, between fairs, events and services, I realized that I needed to emphasize the message that true beauty comes from within. Everything happened automatically, as they say that beauty professionals are full-time therapists. So, to better advise, I decided to study and improve myself. The pastoral ministry is where everything ends, as it means care and guidance.
Humor and lightness are prominent in your book, even when addressing complex themes of modern daily life. What was your secret to balancing these tones in the writing process?
The secret to balance lies in maturity. Like all women, I go through difficult and difficult days, but today I understand that life is simple and it is in our hands to simplify it. In the book, I even recommended a roadmap for achieving balance, because I see the need for us to be light, because living a whole life with immense burdens, in the stress of everyday life, will have irreversible consequences for our physical and mental health.
We need to do our part to achieve a stable life, even if everything isn’t exactly the way we want it. Try hanging out with a grumpy person and you’ll realize that they only see problems and never focus on solutions. In addition, maturity will always lead us to a balanced environment, where we will obtain many benefits such as rest, strength and vigor – thus, our days will be more peaceful.
Receiving the Outstanding Book Award at the 2024 Book Biennial from Literarte was undoubtedly a great recognition. What does this award represent for you, both as an author and as a woman who shares her experiences with the public?
I consider this award to be validation of my work. It was wonderful to receive applause, a trophy and a certificate, but the most wonderful thing was to be recognized as a writer who stood out. Seeing my work bearing fruit is sensational, because it was developed with great dedication, to reach a specific target: women. As a woman, I feel honored, because we continue to fight for spaces, face various challenges and seek notoriety to conquer certain environments.
An award will always be an award; it makes us want more, persist on the path and move forward with new ideals. Furthermore, any award we win is not only consolidated in the title we receive, but in the effect that the writing has had on minds and hearts. Being featured in an International Biennial brings prominence, evidence and visibility to my life not only as an author, but also as a woman.
If you could leave a message for a woman who feels lost or worthless today, what would you say? What is the first step towards this journey of rediscovering yourself?
Here I am in my territory, what I do most is send messages so that women can stand up and feel valued. Because each one is unique and is a special project, created by a Creator who made her with a lot of love. My message is for them to seek to reinforce their value not in fleeting things, but in things that are eternal. Real values are not lost over time, because they have been devalued or become obsolete, but they remain forever as long as each one of them lives. A woman should never feel diminished, lost, despised and worthless, because what they feel in their soul, that is how they will see themselves too. Each one is special with their own peculiarities, and there will always be a way out, an escape, a direction, that will come from Above. In addition, staying strong, focusing on your strength as a woman, putting your faith into practice and taking the next step towards change can be reading this book.
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