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.
Vanessa Maisonpierre
I love this question because I think the first step to overcoming imposter syndrome is realizing that pretty much everyone experiences it at some point. For me, the best way to overcome it has been through education. The more I know, the less I feel like an imposter – I know SO much about holistic skincare, and I have the certifications to prove it. Read more>>
Michelle Shattuck
Well, to be honest, I don’t think I’ve overcome it. Honestly, I don’t know if I ever will. Imposter Syndrome is something everyone experiences throughout their lifetime, especially if they have achieved things they didn’t believe they would at any stage of life. I’m currently in the last year of my twenties, and I can honestly say these last five years have been a whirlwind of opportunities and chances that, if I had let my own fears get in the way, I would not have done half the things I did. Read more>>
Samantha Kozuch
I truly believe that the only way to overcome imposter syndrome is to know and understand that every single person is a beginner at some point in their journey, and the only way that they become comfortable or an expert is to take action on those goals over and over and over and over. Read more>>
Erol Oz
I never got over imposter syndrome, I just learned to ignore it. Every time I write and record a new song, I constantly scrutinize and second guess myself. I think it just comes with being an artist. I have released songs that I knew in my gut were hits, and I have released songs that I didn’t think were my best work. Read more>>
Brianna Shrader
I’ve had to overcome imposter syndrome several times throughout my career, and I think that any time I dive into something brand new – I’ll have that feeling again. That – should I be doing this? Am I good enough to do this? What will people think? – feeling. I’ve come to realize that feeling is more about discomfort and chartering the unknown than it is about actually being an imposter. Read more>>
Sabra Dettore
When I first became ordained, I was given the credentials of Minister, just by paying 40$ on the internet. My second couple to work with wanted religious elements in their wedding, and I was not ok with that. I wasn’t really a minister. Not a clergy person. I felt that I had no right to do an opening prayer, or give a blessing, but I did it. Read more>>
Susan Kuznitsky
Imposter syndrome is common among many successful and talented artists in all the arts. I have to remind myself it is not a reflection of my actual abilities just the ‘chatter’ that goes on in my head. When I shared my experiences with other artists, I have found that many of them have faced similar feelings. Read more>>
Josh Beaton
I don’t know that you ever overcome imposter syndrome. You just have to find ways to push past it. I am nervous every time I walk into a room of photographers. I’m worried they will think I’m a fraud. When I started to realize that everyone in the room was feeling that way, it put me at ease. Read more>>
Annika Sharma
A really brilliant friend/mentor of mine once told me that imposter syndrome (outside of the context it was intended to describe) is a farce – that as women, we’ve been labeled as “suffering” from imposter syndrome to further doubt our abilities and plant a seed of insecurity when in reality, we’re having a natural reaction (nervousness or anxiety) to being in a room of high achievers AND that if we’re in the room to begin with, it’s because we belong there. Read more>>
Martha May
When I first started writing songs, I didn’t deem myself worthy of being called a ‘songwriter’, and among other songwriters I felt just like an imposter! With time I realised that I an whatever I decide myself to be – no specific number of songs written makes you a songwriter. Also, by writing songs regularly I was enforcing my identity further. Read more>>
Olivia Wong
I don’t think anyone ever fully overcomes imposter syndrome, but rather, we all learn to live with and move forward in spite of it. Oftentimes, it’s just a battle of who’s in control that day – us or our insecurities. We all have that little voice inside our heads that tries to bring us down, make us doubt ourselves, and invalidate our successes. Read more>>
Joesephine Lawrence
I overcame imposter syndrome with hypnotherapy and a lot of self drive. It took me about four years to work through it. It was a really deep-seated issue for me. I had the feeling that I wasn’t good at being a hypnotherapist, and I was fooling everyone around me that said otherwise. Read more>>
Justine Feitelson
You can’t be an imposter if you’re being yourself. It’s scary to put your ideas out there, but at the end of the day your work is a culmination of your expertise and your experience. That is a unique combination. Read more>>
Wileen Johnson
Overcoming imposter syndrome involves recognizing and challenging negative thoughts. Focus on your achievements, acknowledge your skills, and remember that everyone experiences self-doubt. Seek support from mentors or friends, and celebrate your successes. Read more>>
Tiffany Hobbs
Overcome? Hardly. Overcoming is a work in progress. I’m my own worst critic, and I think a lot of people deal with a negative inner voice that amplifies doubt and cynicism. But here’s the thing about where I am NOW- I know that voice is but one of many, and, in order to drown it out (because it’s still going to be there), I have to allow the other voices to be louder. Read more>>
Charles Scheland
I dealt with imposter syndrome by recognizing that if I was truly an imposter it would be revealed and dealt with by circumstances outside of my control eventually. When we experience imposter syndrome, we feel that we do not deserve to be in the company of certain people or receive the accolades we do. Read more>>
Daris Frencha
I battle imposter syndrome with every new level of achievement! It never goes away if you’re goals are big enough – in my opinion. How I manage it is by remembering that my brain is designed to keep me safe but it really doesn’t know what real “danger” is. Stepping outside your comfort zone is “danger” to my amygdala. I reaffirm my worthiness, my abilities and my faith daily. Read more>>
Chris Weller
When I bring this subject up with other artists, their response is almost always, “You too?” Feeling like an imposter just comes with the territory. I don’t think we ever get over it, it just becomes part of the way artists see themselves and their work. There is so much rejection to steel oneself against when you are creating and submitting to galleries and competitions. Read more>>
Anne Dickson
“It won’t be long now until someone finds me out!” It’s called Imposter Syndrome, and it’s a notion that I am familiar with. As new opportunities and challenges have come up in my work, there’s often a slight undercurrent of self-imposed inadequacy. I can list off the reasons why these feelings come up in no particular order: Read more>>
Joseph Baldwin
Overcoming imposter syndrome has been a transformative journey for me, and I’ve discovered that taking small yet effective actions towards my goals is a key strategy in this process. When the weight of self-doubt begins to creep in, causing me to question my purpose, I’ve learned to step back from my work and business momentarily. This pause allows me the necessary time to rest and reset my mind, body, and spirit. Read more>>
Bewitching Beauty Events
This is such a great question because it feels like this is something we all universally feel at one point or another, and certainly can happen each time you level up in your business or personal life. For us, it helps to sit and reflect on the work we’ve put in in the last month, 3 months, and year. Read more>>
Tierra Briscoe
I overcame imposter syndrome not too long ago to be quite honest. I would say about 2-3 years ago I began to let it ease up out of my life. Now… the “HOW” is not linear right? I think it took multiple factors from therapy, seeing my self-worth as a service provider and entrepreneur, and finding my voice and aura as a yoga instructor. Read more>>
Katelynn Bennett
I’ve always had the dream of being an actress, but I didn’t truly pursue it until adulthood. Once I gave it my full attention and became intentional with my journey, my results were unusual in that after just a short year of taking acting classes- I secured an amazing agent (Tay Smith of Smith Young Talent) and went on to book lead roles on major networks. Read more>>
Rich Taylor
I believe that experiencing imposter syndrome is a common aspect of life, with its duration varying based on individual perspectives. When I aspired to become a professional photographer, my inner dialogue echoed doubts about my talent, highlighting the fierce competition within the field. Read more>>
Lia Croke
There are definitely days where I feel … not good enough. Being a makeup artist is honestly a very personal career. It’s literally someone’s face! Their face on a usually very important day. As an artist I sometimes feel like it’s never good enough or that I can always have done this differently etc but as a business owner I realize I have worked very hard to get where I am. Read more>>
Fatima TOURE
Overcoming imposter syndrome has been a journey. I do not believe I have fully overcome it because I still have moments of doubt, however I have learned how to manage and self-check when I am falling into it, First I had to understand truly what imposter syndrome was. I knew what I was doing but I never had a word for it. Doubting myself had been something I did since young like a natural habit. Read more>>
Alicia Mitchell
I love this question! I have a podcast and a business called Overcome The Challenge. Within my podcast, one of my latest episodes is titled “Imposter Syndrome!” It’s on Season 3 Episode 8. This episode talks about me overcoming my imposter syndrome and recognizing it’s funny resemblance of being my doppelgänger. Read more>>
Dora Patin
Dealing with imposter syndrome poses its challenges. The life of an artist can be a rollercoaster with its highs and lows. One day, you might win a Best in Show award, and the next day, your work gets rejected from a prestigious show. Read more>>
Dr. Vernell Deslonde
In the wake of my painful divorce, which left me as a single mother with two young children, I was burdened by feelings of failure as a wife, mother, and woman. My self-confidence, once unshakable, was shattered, and I became entangled in a web of self-doubt and low self-worth. Every day, I found myself criticizing and questioning my own worthiness, trapped in a cycle of believing I deserved nothing more than the pain that seemed to be my constant companion. Read more>>
Amanda Parlin
I think no matter where you are in your journey, there is some small part that is constantly feeling like you’re not measuring up. Comparing yourself to where you are, or aren’t and where you should be. I, like many others, just need to remind myself that I am where I should be. Read more>>
Hailey Aitkins
Imposter syndrome is an interesting topic, especially phrased in a question about overcoming it, because I don’t think it’s something you ever really overcome. I think, just like fear, it’s something you learn to live with and eventually, you don’t let it run your life anymore. Imposter syndrome to me is still very real. Just like fear is. But, I started doing things scared, and realizing that I was still alive and well afterward. I see imposter syndrome in a similar light. Read more>>
Kiera Jesslyn
I think anyone who experiences success in their industry has imposter syndrome at one point or another. It’s an important thing to recognize and being self aware is pivotal in this industry. Overcoming imposter syndrome for me has been a challenge that is constantly evolving into different tiers First and foremost; you have to give yourself the credit that is due. Acknowledging your wins, your advancements and telling yourself that you are deserving of everything you’ve worked for is a gratitude to practice daily. Read more>>
Adam Price
Honestly, it is something I still struggle with, and something I am constantly battling. However, I have accomplished so much in my career, just by showing up. And the thing that helps me the most when I am feeling like an imposter, is thinking about where I was in high school. The high school me would never have dreamed of the things I have accomplished. Read more>>
Michaela Yoro
A huge part of not only running your own business, but creating artwork that comes from a real and authentic part of you, requires a level of risk, whether it’s financial or emotional. Whenever I make plans to create artwork and make moves in my business that is somewhat out of my comfort zone, imposter syndrome inevitably finds its way back into my thoughts. Read more>>
Anthony Golden Jr.
This is the toughest question for me right now because there are days I feel like I haven’t overcome imposter syndrome. Those days are when I sit at my desk and bang my head against my computer and say” No one wants to watch your movie.” “All that money at film school just to be a nobody.” Read more>>
