Finding your place in this great big world can be one of life’s biggest challenges. It’s refreshing to see someone like Dr. Anchana Dominic do it with such grace and style.
Born of immigrant parents, and immigrant grandparents, Dr. Anchana Dominic is one of those women whose spirit shines brightly through their being. As we sat for our interview, I was drawn to her bubbly personality, full of light and positivity. She was super punctual and I could tell, was thoroughly prepared for whatever I wanted to ask.
We started with her background. As an Indian-American woman, born in England, raised in St. Louis and currently residing in Atlanta (pending an upcoming relocation), Dr. Dominic truly knows the power of culture and community.
“I think it’s always so important to reconnect with your roots and figure out who you are. Your origin story is always just such a big part of that,” she explains. “So for me, coming from an Indian background, and coming with those specific cultural values and beliefs, is everything that really helped shape and form who I am today. I carry a lot of those values with me.”
Being a fellow Woman of Color, this immediately made me think of the challenges of identity and forming your own beliefs that come with maintaining traditional cultural values while navigating the modern world. What surprised me most was how aspects such as colorism played a major role in her younger identity, but have now been overcome, simply by her move to Atlanta.
“When I was younger, it was so hard finding my place. I grew up primarily in the upper middle class of St. Louis, which was primarily white. Being on the darker side of the spectrum, I never felt comfortable with my own skin until I moved to Atlanta,” she says. “This is what I’ve been missing!”
While part of me sympathized with her struggles, part of me became filled with joy as I can understand the relief it is to find a community that you relate to after many years of being “the only,” a feeling I’m also am no stranger to. Atlanta’s diverse landscape has a way of giving those who live here a sense of home and safety – or as Dr. Dominic describes it, “a natural sense of belonging.”
She goes on to say the immense confidence boost she’s experienced just by gaining a comfort level that allows her to feel like the sky’s the limit when it comes to achievement and tapping into her internal power.
“Coming to a place like this, where you see so many Women of Color achieving incredible things, it just becomes a thought of ‘Why wouldn’t I give myself that opportunity…or atleast try?’ It’s been really cool to see that level of personal and professional growth within me,” she expresses.
Her feeling of empowerment is especially helpful when it comes to her career as a Forensic Psychiatrist, which requires her to connect with people on a deep level, which is easily her self-proclaimed superpower. Feeling confident on a daily basis is vital for her mental and emotional balance. As a woman, she knows exactly what it means to understand her own power which makes her feel empowered to achieve anything. This is what helps her maintain that bubbly personality I was introduced to from the very beginning.
Balance is also the name of the game when it comes to Dr. Dominic operating at full capacity. When asked about maintaining her balance, she lists the usual suspects for overall wellness, including a routine of yoga classes, healthy home-cooked meals, meditation, and riding her Peloton. What really stuck out to me was her emphasis on quality family time. When speaking about the closeness of her family and its necessity in her life, I could see the happiness radiate through her smile. It’s clear to me that her family is her sense of grounding and comfort. With their support, she’s able to feel a level of wholeness that keeps an overall inspiration present in her life.
The true gem in her life is her mother. She explains that having such a strong mother is what makes womanhood truly beautiful as it’s something that is passed through generations. Her heartfelt gratitude towards her mother gave me even more of an appreciation for my own as we both connected on our privilege in having an attentive and compassionate mother to guide us through life. One who understands the ups and downs while navigating through major life changes including love, career and beyond.
“My mom always used to say that everything works out in the end and if it hasn’t worked out yet, then it isn’t the end. That has always kept me going. Anytime there’s a bad day, it isn’t the end. I’ve always found peace and comfort with that,”she reflects.
As our time together came to a close, Dr. Dominic proves that there’s so much more that meets the eye when it comes to her life journey. Her story of resilience, adversity and achievement is one that we all can relate to, showing us all that our experiences in finding our place in this world are truly universal.
