Meet Natalie Roy

We recently connected with Natalie Roy and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I spent much of my life studying, taking courses, learning and trying to soak up every experience like a sponge, hoping one day all this learning or certification would leave me feeling like less of an imposter. It never worked.

I realized that no amount of experience or knowledge would help me overcome imposter syndrome, so instead, I had to attempt to understand it.

What I learned is that imposter syndrome often occurs because we are living in the unrelenting standard of having to achieve perfection.

When we surrender having to be perfect in exchange for getting to learn, evolve and express ourselves, then, often the intrinsic goal of knowing ourselves transcends the outward achievement of perfection.

Those of us with imposter syndrome can sometimes feel afraid we will be “found out”. It often stirs from a core negative belief that we are not enough and so we get into PROVING behavior: trying to prove that we are enough, worthy or good. However, the results of those efforts often feel flat as they only give us the temporary relief that no one has seen the “real” us.

In truth, all of us are afraid, all of us are learning, all of us feel shame and not enoughness. If we allow those feelings to become fact and stop us from taking action we have sabotaged ourselves. If we take action trying to prove these things are NOT true about us, any success we achieve will always leave us feeling like imposters.

Only when we can meet ourselves in our humanity and vulnerability and truth, and move from there, can we move in the world in a way that feels authentic: imperfect and growing.

Right where we are, we have something to offer and something to learn.
A mentor once told me that some of the best teachers or leaders are those just one step ahead of you on the path who trips on the rock and turns to you to say, “Hey, watch out for that rock!”

We can know that wherever we are, we have something to give and something to contribute. We can trust that it is not only enough, but it is needed.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am based in New York city and work professionally as an actor and acting mentor in New York and around the globe. My passion is helping empower actors and creatives to live the dream that calls to them and to give them both the holistic and practical tools to make it a reality. I teach acting courses and classes for creatives around the world, I have co-created the 1st ever Audition Script Analysis APP for actors, I co-host a podcast dedicated to spiritual tools for artists, creatives and actors and I am a proud mama of a sweet little two year old.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The most impactful places on my journey have been a rich interior landscape I can tap into for my creative ideas and guidance. A relationship to something greater than myself I can co-create with and seek solace in when times are tough, and always working in community with mentors and guides who can help me when I cannot see the spinach in my own teeth.

Knowing that we are not meant to do it alone has been key for me. Getting into community, getting support from those who know what I wish to know and deepening my practices to know and trust myself have been essential.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents have shared with me many times that becoming parents at a very young age they felt a type of imposter syndrome themselves in knowing how to parent. The one key they held at high value was to encourage me. They often said that they desired me to grow up with COURAGE and to offer that, they offered ENCOURAGEMENT.

For ourselves and those we love, what a beautiful gift to give. Sometimes when we share our deepest dreams or desires we are met with people playing devil’s advocate or reminding us what could go wrong. Instead, a great gift is to listen and hold space for excitement and possibility. My parents taught me how to do this and I try to offer it out to others as often as I can.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.natalieroy.com
• Instagram: @missnatalieroy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/392973526910078
• Other: https://www.thecreateseries.com/create-podcast

Image Credits

Jessica Osber
Savion Smith
Yuko Kudo