This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move forward on your journey towards reaching your full potential. We hope the stories and lessons below will help you overcome self-doubt.
Jillian Wells
The toughest part of overcoming imposter syndrome is feeling like you don’t have the experience or background to support your current role – but the solution is to forge ahead and always be learning. The more I learned and got myself hands-on work, the more I could call upon those learnings and experiences to remind myself I am not an imposter but a deserving, skilled entrepreneur. Read more>>
Jill Reed
Imposter syndrome is alive and well in the world of academia. I struggled with it for years as a graduate student and it wasn’t until I started working on my dissertation data and drilling down my committee that I had a moment with my chair. She said something along the lines of: “Every single person you see here, faculty, administration, other students – they are all just people. Read more>>
Gustavo David
I don’t know if I have fully overcome impostor syndrome, but I have definitely developed some tools that I can achieve whenever I find myself with negative thoughts. There’s a moment in my day that sometimes I have to reflect on the things that I’ve done since I started my career as an actor, that I have to specifically tell myself about how difficult it was for me to put myself in this spotlight of the world of acting and allow saying that I have done more than enough and there’s more to come, that I have to be (proud) on my path so far. Believe me, impostor syndrome is a thing that eats your good thoughts and achievements alive, making you believe that there’s nothing that you have done that’s enough, AND YOU NEED TO DO MORE…and you start drowning, suffocating. Read more>>
David Houle
Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon that has affected me for many years and still does, but I understand how to manage it now and where it comes from. I employ several strategies to overcome this feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt. Read more>>
Heitor Lago
Wow this is not only a heavy-loaded question but still a work in progress! I don’t come from a musical background at all, and I’m pretty sure that this was the biggest reason why I started making music only in 2020. When I finally did start, though, that was when the imposter syndrome was at an all time HIGH! Because, honestly, how good could I REALLY be in music if I was starting from total zero… Read more>>
Kim Stewart
Lots of prayer. Asking God to remind me how He created me in a unique way and then to remind me every day so I believe it. The struggle is real! Read more>>
Michelle Asarch
I wish I had an adequate answer to this question – I really do. I spend all day every day with students encouraging my students to try new things, push themselves out of their comfort zones, apply for competitions and galleries, yet as soon as it comes to me and my own personal work, the little voice in my head starts to yell that I’m not good enough. Read more>>
James Rao
Imposter syndrome is something I feel all the time and sometimes it’s not easy to overcome. When I start to feel imposter syndrome I like to remind myself that everything I create isn’t for someone else it’s for me. When other people enjoy my work or products as well it makes me realize I may not be like every other professional out there but I can still bring joy to myself and others with what I make. Read more>>
Kiyanni Bryan
I believe imposter syndrome is something that will always try to come and rear its head when you cross over to the next level in your life. The key to overcoming imposter syndrome is to first identify that it’s present. Many times my thoughts of not being good enough, of feeling afraid to step up to the challenge, and struggling with perfectionism caused me to feel inadequate about new endeavors. Read more>>
Mollie Mason
I started out painting as a hobby. I started by showing my artwork to people locally, and then posting to social media. I started receiving a lot of positive feedback, so I continued to share my growth as an artist. I also joined an online Art Group to learn more about expanding my art business. I learned about the Facebook algorithm and how to sell my artwork locally and online. Read more>>
Julia Mason
Impostor syndrome is a familiar term to many, often conjuring images of self-doubt and fear. However, it’s not something that one completely overcomes; instead, it’s a challenge we learn to dance with. As we grow and venture into new territories, it’s natural for our egos to feel fear. The secret lies in seeking support from those who uplift us and see our potential, reflecting our highest selves. Read more>>
Michelle Oppedisano
This question ties quite nicely into another question about persisting despite the haters and nay-sayers so I’m going to answer both at once: It’s not despite them, but because of them that I continue to persist. I can’t let them win. I will continue to do my best to prove them wrong and beat that nasty imposter syndrome. Read more>>
Taina Brown
After living most of my life being gaslit by society into thinking there was something irreparably wrong with me (hello, imposter syndrome!), I found a profound sense of empowerment and freedom while studying feminist politics and philosophy during my time at Agnes Scott College. Read more>>
Sarim Dream
I haven’t exactly mastered this one. I actually find myself doubting my abilities quite often but what keeps me going is this listening and observing those thoughts. Questioning each doubt as it arrives until I’ve driven all of them into a corner. I think imposter syndrome can’t exist if you’re aware, mindful, and present. Its all about learning to doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs. Have faith and believe in yourself! Read more>>
Bryan Schmier
Honestly, I am still overcoming this on a day to day basis. In this industry you’re always looking for the next big thing. Even when you accomplish it, the next thought is “what’s next”. I think the best creatives tend to feel this way. We live in a world of social media that can lead to a lot of self-comparison, which is something I strive to stay away from. Instead I look at my peers’ work as a form of inspiration to get after my own work. Read more>>
James Corbett
Imposter syndrome comes from the feeling of inadequacy or just the overall feeling that you’re not doing enough. What helps me overcome those feelings is being going over my accomplishments, to serve as a reminder as to how far I’ve come along in my career. In addition to thinking about the positive impact that I put on a lot of people’s lives by just me playing a song someone loves. Read more>>
Jamar Cleary
Overcoming imposter syndrome has been quite a journey for me, and one strategy that really made a difference was adopting the mindset of being a fly on the wall. Picture yourself in various situations, not as an active participant burdened by self-doubt, but as an observer seeking to understand and learn. Read more>>
Cathy Alice Kuhlman
To be honest, I’m not sure I’ll ever completely overcome imposter syndrome. I’ve always been the quiet, shy one who never liked raising her hand. I was comfortable being the follower and not the leader, but I loved learning how to do new things. I grew up with a mom who crafted. She taught me how to do needle point and cross stitch and use a glue gun! Read more>>
Alyssa Myers
I don’t think you ever actually overcome imposter syndrome, it’s more like you learn how to face it and stare it in the eyes. This past year, I had countless moments where I walked into a room and thought, “How did I get here? There is no way I’ve been entrusted to lead this group of people”. I have a hunch that this feeling comes from the reality that no one has ever truly “arrived”. Instead, we are continually evolving – sometimes subtly in small intentional increments… sometimes in unexpected leaps! Read more>>
Varun Chounal
This journey has been ongoing for me. Doubts about my ability and skill always linger in some distant corner of my mind, no matter where I am in the process. Some days, I power through, while on others, I succumb to it. Read more>>
Jennifer Ibbotson Rodriguez
7 Simple Steps to Overcome Imposter Syndrome Overcoming Imposter Syndrome is one of the most liberating and freeing activities anyone can achieve. Five Stars, Highly Recommended! Growing up in Aspen, the daughter of a local celebrity, I recognized from an early age the different masks people wore for their different audiences. I noticed how the people in church behaved differently than they did at work. Read more>>
Bitsy McCann
I believe the only way to overcome imposter syndrome is to do the job be the person and to develop the skills. Though I have confidence in spades, I felt imposter syndrome deeply for the first few years of my business. I constantly felt like I wasn’t good enough to truly be doing the work that I was doing. I think this feeling of inadequacy helps us to push ourselves further. Feeling like an imposter brings about the persistence to continue educating yourself so you can become better at what you do. Read more>>
BOBBI MEYERS. MBA
Imposter Syndrome-WOW! I was just speaking about this to a friend. Explaining to her how we, ourselves can be our own worst enemy. Our mind is an extremely powerful tool that if not used correctly, could cause us to self-destruct. So when having to choose a topic to share about, this one jumped right out. Read more>>
Maserati Shellz
Self-awareness is a fundamental aspect of who I am as a person. I’ve always been deeply in touch with my own struggles, my personal journey, and my relationship with my faith, which for me is rooted in my relationship with Yahweh. It’s true that my upbringing played a significant role in shaping my perspective. Read more>>
Alexis Zurdo
There’s a saying ‘fake it till you make it’ and then there’s ‘imposter syndrome’. To me I feel in the first saying there’s truth and passion into what you’re doing because you know one day ‘You make it’. With imposter syndrome it’s like going on a blind date and in the moment realizing it’s not so bad and that it’s actually really good and then years later realizing and seeing it was all a façade. Read more>>
Tom McCaffrey
I am a lawyer and a writer. In the past, I have suffered the imposter syndrome in both professions until I came to the conclusion that I should stop worrying about what others told me I should be doing in those roles and just following my gut. It took me a decade of working at the profession before I overcame this as an attorney. Read more>>
Alabama Blonde
As Eleanor Roosevelt famously said “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” And I believe it to be true. It’s also reminding yourself to not compare your beginning to someone’s middle. We are all at different stages in our career, we are all going through different shit in our creative and personal lives. So comparisons against other people in the room are so unfair. Something I have had to become very aware of in my career is, describing any of my successes as being ‘lucky’. Read more>>
Paige Prevost
In 2022, Oprah Winfrey interviewed Quinta Brunson and imposter syndrome came up. Oprah says, “I’ve never had a moment’s imposter syndrome” and Quinta exclaims, “Me either!”. Me either. There have been times when I’ve started a new job and felt overwhelmed trying to learn how to do things correctly and trying to make sure I don’t get fired while I do them incorrectly, but I’ve never felt like I shouldn’t be in a place. Read more>>
Sadie Mcmahan
Becoming a nail tech in the midst of a pandemic came with lots of obstacles, physically and mentally. I started practicing nail art on myself and my husband at the beginning of my journey, before it was safe to be around others. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do nails as a career or if I even had the skill to do it on someone else.
Becoming a nail tech in the midst of a pandemic came with lots of obstacles, physically and mentally. I started practicing nail art on myself and my husband at the beginning of my journey, before it was safe to be around others. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to do nails as a career or if I even had the skill to do it on someone else. Read more>>
Destiny Gray
Growing up I’ve always knew what my journey would be. I’d finished high school go to college get my degree and work my 9-5 and live a typical normal life. I didn’t think that after graduating college that I wouldn’t want to be a social worker or have anything to do with my degree for that matter. I decided to purse a career in the dance industry and start my own travel company. Read more>>
Ebony Coleman
Overcoming imposter syndrome as a functional medicine provider, a 36-year-old mom, and a married mother of three while pursuing my master’s as a nurse practitioner has been a journey of self-discovery and resilience. One key strategy that has played a pivotal role in overcoming imposter syndrome is seeking wisdom from those around me. Read more>>
Chris Arnold (A*)
Imposter syndrome is a constant companion in my life, especially as an artist. It’s a recurring struggle that visits me at least once a month, as I find myself lying in bed in the quiet hours, questioning my worth as a “good artist.” The emotional rollercoaster of self-doubt is a unique journey that perhaps only fellow creatives can fully grasp. In those moments, I grapple with the idea that I should have pursued a different path in life. However, the truth is, it’s merely a deceptive narrative. Read more>>
