How did you overcome imposter syndrome?

We’ve got some of the most incredible artists, creatives and entrepreneurs in our community and we are constantly shocked by how prevalent imposter syndrome is. So many incredibly talented folks are haunted by self-doubt by a society that often tells you not to think too highly of yourself, but in order to have the strength to take on big challenges and make meaningful change in the world you’ve got to believe in yourself and so we wanted to create a space for conversations around overcoming imposter syndrome.

LYNDA MARTIN

As therapists, our careers and identities become so intertwined that turning it off is hard, and it’s even harder for others to see us as complete individuals. This blurring of boundaries often leaves many of us feeling like we can never be enough, unable to fully relax or just turn off.  Read more>>

Dr. Tracy G. Crump

Many people face feelings of imposter syndrome (i.e., a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a “fraud” despite evidence of their competence). I am no exception. Early in my career, I, too, experienced feelings of guilt or shame as I “moved up the corporate ladder.”  Read more>>

D Muse

My process of overcoming imposter syndrome was to decide to do what I wanted to do for me and not for anyone else’s sake. Once I started I began to receive encouragement, reinforcement, and later accolades which helped me identify with a person that can and does do what I do and does it well. Read more>>

Shalini Blubaugh

It’s been a ride, that’s for sure! Mostly, what I’ve found over the years, though is approaching each new day with a beginner’s mindset. Being humble enough to say to a client, “I’m not sure what the answer is, but let’s figure it out together!”, and recognizing that within the health and wellness world – there will always be room to learn and educate myself. Read more>>

Theresa Cheung

My background is in fashion design, but learning to bake is a science. I experimented with many different recipes, and then adjusted them to make them to my liking using only quality ingredients. I would only use ingredients that I would feed my kids. Once I got the flavors and textures right, I had to make sure my baked goods look as good as it tastes!  Read more>>

Hannah Crowley

One of the most peculiar aspects of being an artist is the need for self-confidence in order to create and stand by your art, while also feeling that each creation is a ‘one-off’ and will never be replicated. This often leads to the imposter syndrome that I frequently experience. Read more>>

Karen Yatsko

I don’t know that imposter syndrome is something to overcome if we’re taking overcome to mean defeated. I view it as just another form of anxiety that never goes away but can be effectively dealt with. For me, this comes down to repetition. Read more>>

Jon Savage

It’s truly inspiring how finding support within the Deaf community helped me overcome imposter syndrome and continue with my art. Embracing my identity and finding a supportive community is a powerful way to counter feelings of doubt and insecurity. Read more>>

Kelly Quinn

Deciding to make a complete career shift and focus during the pandemic was a big life shift. After a decade long career in Law Enforcement, my husband asked me what was something that I had always wanted to explore or do and I said “Acting.” His wonderful and supportive response was, “So why don’t you?” Read more>>

Stacey Darling

As I sit down to reflect on my journey as an artist, I’m reminded of the winding path I’ve traveled, filled with highs and lows, challenges, and triumphs. It’s a story of overcoming self-doubt, anxiety, depression, and healing from past wounds to embrace my creativity and find my voice in the world of art. Read more>>

Devina Bhaga

I love this question, because the journey of releasing imposter syndrome from body, and BE-ing, has been the catalyst for where I am in my life, and business today. Imposter syndrome took a front-row seat the moment that I started my business. It was a part of my identity long before that, but something that I wasn’t necessarily able to pinpoint – probably because it was running the show. Read more>>

Risa Vinegar-Johnson

Impostor syndrome is when people doubt their skills, talents, and accomplishments. I have never doubted my innate intelligence and ability to do hair and that self-confidence and belief in myself is the reason I never experienced any fear of impostor syndrome. I didn’t think I found my purpose; I thought my purpose found me. Read more>>

Ashley Zamora

To stop doubting your skills and talents! This happened personally to me because you have a fear of processing them and then of being a fear of being portrayed as fraud when you’re not! When in all actuality you just feel weird about standing out to other people then you have this thing that is hyper self conscious of how do people perceive me?  Read more>>

Sam Callahan

This question brings a bit of humor, and truth be told, I haven’t completely overcome it. Despite recognizing my talent and crafting a unique style, imposter syndrome always lingers in the background. Recently, someone shared that impostors don’t experience imposter syndrome, and that reassured me, affirming that I’m on the right path.  Read more>>

Pynk Roze

Overcoming impostor syndrome was a journey for me, and I still have moments I find myself doubting who I am and what I’m capable ofF especially when it comes to trying new things and becoming someone I’ve never been. As far as my role as the host of “Don’t Recycle Project” podcast, I had doubts that maybe I wasn’t qualified enough to teach or share information. Read more>>

Aaron Vinik

Working in the music industry is not for the faint of heart. Your success and ability to thrive within such a niche industry is entirely defined by the quality of work you provide, and the connections you yourself have established within your tenure. Graduating from college at 19 and starting an internship in one of New York’s top recording studios was oddly difficult of me to be proud of.  Read more>>

Adrianna Reid

Short answer, by eventually realizing we’re all equally clueless and there are plenty of far less qualified and less careful people doing what I want to do. But in all seriousness, I’ve found the most useful approach to be diving into the passion of your work. There are no wrong answers when you start with “why”, and doing so enables you to pursue meaningful work that truly represents who you are. Read more>>

Gabi Grella

From what I’ve experienced and from speaking to people who are much further in their career than I am, I am not sure that imposter syndrome is ever something that really goes away. It seems that no matter what level of success you reach, there is always a part of you that is comparing yourself to others or is questioning how deserving you are of your opportunities.  Read more>>

Matthew Miller

For much of my life, my goal was to become an architect. I worked hard in school, I took the exams, I practiced architecture, and worked on great projects. However, I found that when I reached my goal, I felt a lack of fulfillment. I was able to check the boxes along the way, and when I no longer had any boxes to check, I began to ask “what’s next?” I realized that rather than reaching for a goal that has a determinant end, I should chase something less concrete: a feeling. Read more>>

Matteo Miles

It can be easy to worship at the altar of self-doubt. Acknowledging that every artist has a unique path and embracing my distinctive style has been pivotal. I feel that every creator can have difficulty seeing their own art through the eye of someone else, and not appreciating it like they should. I have a bad habit of blacking out the memory of the process until i’m tripping over all these canvases in my home, underestimating their value.  Read more>>

EVA VIANA

Creating my own clothing brand TSENOH! Every day, I confront my imposter syndrome by honestly and humbly sharing with the world what is inside me as a person and as a creative. Through my brand, I display my vulnerability, who I am, and what I am capable of. And every day, I strive to do it better. Read more>>

Travis Brown

Imposter syndrome is a ghost that haunts too many people and keeps them from taking action. The truth is…..no one REALLY knows what they are doing. Here’s how you can get rid of the dreaded imposter syndrome. Just say this one phrase out loud. “I only need to be one step ahead of someone to be able to teach them.” Read more>>

Stephanie Lafler

Lots of work. I worked with a transformational healing mindset coach for over 6 months. We met twice a week, did hypnosis, meditation and learned a lot about why I was self sabotaging. I’m still putting in the work. Read more>>

Lauren Howard

I still experience imposter syndrome! It is not something you can easily overcome. I try to surround myself with uplifting individuals to combat it. Another way I combat this is by taking a break from the thing that is causing imposter syndrome. I take a set time away and then come back. This enables me to come back even stronger and to recover my mental blocks.  Read more>>

Kat Mulvaney

The biggest thing I think I needed to do to overcome imposter syndrome was to change my narrative. Be kinder to yourself and positive self talk. Stop comparing yourself to others and start acknowledging your accomplishments and successes. Read more>>

Geovanna Burgess White

Overcoming imposter syndrome is a journey, not a destination, as personal growth is ongoing. Recognizing your worth and listening to your intuition were pivotal steps. Refraining from comparing myself to others and embracing my authenticity were empowering choices. Letting go of concern for others’ opinions allowed me to focus on my own path and attract those who resonate with my authenticity. Read more>> 

Jessica Champion

I’d like to preface my response by stating that imposter syndrome, for me, isn’t necessarily something to overcome as much as it’s something to learn how to dance with. I’m a work in progress, and I’ve learned to view imposter syndrome as an invitation to get curious about where I am on my journey, how I can better support myself, and what resources are available to help me navigate the complexity and nuance of the situation at hand. Read more>>

Daniel Pelavin

Here’s the secret: No successful artist ever overcomes the imposter syndrome, we just do our best to, ignore it and carry on in any way we can. Read more>>

Jill Baumann

I believe that overcoming imposter syndrome is a challenge that MANY people face. However, I have a few tricks to keep it at bay. One approach I take is to focus on my own work and limit my exposure to social media. Comparing my work to that of other photographers can be counterproductive, as it often leads to feelings of inadequacy and a disregard for my own accomplishments. Read more>>

Erin Fennell

I had to look this one up. I had not heard of this syndrome before but boy, does this apply to me. I have to pinch myself sometimes when I look around and see what I have accomplished in my life. From achieving a masters in nursing from Vanderbilt, to working in oncology, to working for big pharma for a short period, raising two beautiful humans and to opening small business. Read more>>

Jeffrey Garriock

I think that imposter syndrome is one of those things that never goes away, regardless of your level of success. I’ve had several moments where I’ve felt very much like i’ve ‘gotten away’ with something to some degree, and it can be difficult to appreciate that you’re now at a level where this is a part of your life, or that you deserve to be here.  Read more>>

Pooja Arshanapally

Imposter syndrome comes when you don’t feel confident in your skills and you often doubt them. It can feel as if you are coming off as a “fraud”. At my first job out of college, I was in way over my head. I felt unqualified from the job that I was put in and I was confiding in a coworker. He told me that he never has imposter syndrome, and it is because he always admits when he doesn’t know something. It was such great advice and I took that advice everywhere that I go. Read more>>

Gabi Garcia-Gallont

I believe starting this interview with a question about impostor syndrome is both accurate and thought-provoking, in my specific case, I have to say. Impostor syndrome, “a behavioral health phenomenon which manifests as self-doubt despite achievements”… Yeah, I don’t think I have found a way to overcome that and it’s a challenge I grapple with every day. Read more>>

Omar Garcia

Imposter syndrome, along with fear and self-doubt, has always been a shadow following many of us in the creative fields. Over the years, I’ve come to view these feelings not as signs of inadequacy but as natural parts of the design process. They indicate that we’re stepping out of our comfort zones, which is precisely where real growth happens. Read more>>

Dazzy Shah

This is a tough one mostly because I am not a 100% sure that I have overcome my imposter syndrome, but I have found a few things that help in dealing with it. The first step is to figure out how to go form the “I am not good enough for this” mindset to “Holy shit, I guess I am pretty darn good” outlook. Read more>>

Jackie Rush

I don’t think I’ll ever “overcome” imposter syndrome but rather learn how to use those moments as fuel for pushing myself. There have been countless moments where I feel uncertain of my place in the room or unsure of my ability to do my job, but in these moments now, I try to use it as a time to reflect on why or who is making me feel this way. Read more>>

Manny Larcher

It’s a constant work in progress. Imposter syndrome is described as having self-doubt about your intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals. There’s nothing better than playing the game and not crying about it. I’ve found that doing the work, focusing on helping my customers/clients and having healthy communication with my team is most important.  Read more>>