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.
Janessa Williams
If I am being completely honest, I am still working on this one. I’m not sure if you can ever really overcome imposter syndrome as an artist. At least in my experience, it has always been a feeling that ebbs and flows throughout my existence. Read more>>
Aileen Passariello McAleer
Imposter syndrome does not go away! The key is to acknowledge the feeling and move through the fear. The brain tries to make sense of the world and at moments that it finds itself in a stressful and uncertain situation, the brain naturally begins to catastrophize to keep the body safe. But if you do not push through these moments of intense fear, you are preventing yourself from those key life opportunities where growth happens. Read more>>
Charles H. Coats II
Imposter Syndrome can strike anyone in any aspect of your life, whether it’s at your job, among the public, and even in your own mind. I would have to say the fear of being labeled “a fraud” or a feeling of not being good enough can halt people in their tracks, and many times be the catalyst of dropping out or quitting something. Read more>>
Sophia Mean
I just made a TikTok about having imposter syndrome as a creative crafter. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten over the imposter syndrome. I always ask myself if my work is good enough to even charge money for it. But then I go through my Etsy page or get messages from customers who thank me for making their graduation or helping to make their daughter/son’s graduation special with my lei’s. Read more>>
Alyson Schill
I haven’t! Every day, I ask myself, “who put me in charge?” I think that’s a lot healthier to chuckle at than to decide that I somehow am the “right” person to always get things right. Read more>>
Lauren Maier
I’ll start this by saying that I don’t think anyone truly overcomes imposter syndrome, but I do think you can “beat” it by believing that everyone else deals with it too. I dabble in so many different forms of art (including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, photography, embroidery, knitting, whittling, and writing) that it’s easy to think of them as “mere” hobbies despite selling and being commissioned for all of them and publishing my first book. Read more>>
Dana Lockhart
I didn’t encounter imposter syndrome until I was already deep into my career as a writer. I’ve always been a loud and bold creative, even from an early age, eager to put anything I drew or wrote in front of people. Maybe I was being a show off, or maybe I just thrived on compliments. Regardless, I was rarely afraid to put myself out there. Read more>>
Wade Patterson
Most people struggle with imposter syndrome at some point in their creative journey. My moments of most extreme growth as an artist occurred while I was “faking it to make it.” When I first started working in the film industry, I got hired on a multi-million dollar feature film as a media manager in my home state of Mississippi. My main task would be backing up all the footage and shipping it to the editor in L.A. Read more>>
Kirigo Kabuga
For me, overcoming imposter syndrome began with the crucial step of recognizing and accepting its presence in my life. Once I acknowledged that I sometimes felt like an imposter, I could begin to understand how these feelings were impacting my confidence and hindering my progress. Read more>>
King Holder
Overcoming imposter syndrome has been crucial for me. I realized that most people are more focused on their own lives and insecurities than on judging yours. And for those who do judge, don’t give them any energy at all. Realizing this helped me stop overthinking every interaction. I began to understand that most of the pressure I felt was from myself, which allowed me to focus more on my personal growth. Read more>>
Cat Rickman
I found myself in leadership roles at a pretty young age–I was an Editor-in-Chief by the time I turned 25, and I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. Around this time, I was also running an open mic in Brooklyn, and organizing a songwriting showcase called Bitch Music Series. I didn’t have much guidance, and I was often managing people far older and more experienced than I was. Read more>>
Kyra Anastasia Kabler
Something that actually helped a lot at first was remembering that someone else hired me, therefore it’s their fault if I’m not good enough! In all seriousness though, I think lifting eachother up at work and having a supportive, encouraging boss who lets people run with their skills and allows their talents to shine is so important. Read more>>
Arlys Tineo
As an adult, I realize my resilience comes from my 1st generation experience. Growing up in a predominately white neighborhood, I constantly felt out of place. I was never able to find a safe space where I could show my Latinidad and also simulate with my white counterparts. When trying to connect with classmates, I moved in constant anxiety of not being accepted and being looked at as “foreign”. Read more>>
Lizelle Jackson
Does anyone ever really overcome imposter syndrome?! I know that I constantly feel like an imposter in many of the endeavors that I dare to take on, from surfing to mountain biking to starting a non-profit. Instead of focusing on the ways in which I feel inferior, I try to remember that most of us have no idea what we are doing when we first try something new, but at least we have the courage to try. Read more>>
Sam Chon
It still lingers from and there. Coming in at most inconvenient of times. What I learned about myself is to try and be creative or completing a small task. That doesn’t mean strictly art creation but doing little wins here and there. Folding laundry, walking the cat, READING, which I rarely do but want to get more into. Read more>>
Andy Estrella
Well, first of all, I don’t think anyone completely overcomes imposter syndrome. Someone telling you that it doesn’t bother them is probably lying. However, I can tell you how I deal with it and keep it at bay. Whenever I’m feeling like I’m not good enough, I remind myself why I started to play music in the first place. Read more>>
Kate Dix
Is this a trick question?! I still haven’t managed to overcome imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is something that I experience every single day. However, while there will always be someone else who is better looking, more talented, wittier or with better branding, I do have peace of mind in the fact that every product I make has been specially developed to bring relief and revitalization to others. Read more>>
Monica Belmana
I honestly don’t know that this is something we need to overcome. I think it’s something that comes and goes and we when feel it, we face it. Ru Paul has a fantastic quote about identity where he says “we’re born naked, and the rest is drag”. What I take from that is that who we are is what we perform. Read more>>
Lorena Molina
Imposter syndrome hit at an unexpected time and for no apparent reason. I had already been running my business for a few years and had been using herbs for everything from an upset stomach to a snack since I was a child. Despite my experience, I suddenly felt like a fraud. Read more>>
Victoria Waddle
Imposter Syndrome is recurrent. I work on keeping it in check as I move through each project. I think there’s a lot of pressure in any kind of endeavor to do something bigger or better the next time or we think we are failures. Instead of thinking of things that way, I try to remember that each project has its own heart, its own center. Read more>>
Calandra Bodilis
This my story how I overcame imposter syndrome. It’s sad but it’s true, unfortunately it took me ten years of owning my own business for me to realize: woha!? This is this mine? Did I really create this? I had a vision, I did the work and look at us thriving! But why did it take me so long to see and appreciate my success? Was this imposter syndrome? Read more>>
Cerissa Lopez
To be completely honest – I still find myself navigating through this quite often, so to say that I 100% overcame imposter syndrome would be a lie. In a way, I almost don’t want to lose sight of this ideology because it keeps me humble and grounded, however, when I feel empty as a creative or in a depressed state of mind, the help of a support system always is a reminder of what I have accomplished in my career. Read more>>
Nicole Bernard
3 things you need to quiet the imposter inside Imagine this: Two years after launching your ceramics business, you decide the attend the national clay convention for the first time. It’s actually The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)’s Annual Conference, and it’s basically a rite of passage for serious ceramics artists. Read more>>
Suzanne Borders
I love this question! Even though all humans can feel imposter syndrome, it’s something I feel that women, especially, experience. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about why that is, and, I feel like women grow up with fewer examples of what leadership ‘looks like’ because we see far fewer examples of female leaders in our life, media, and pop culture. Read more>>
Jake Fraczek
All artists have their influences and inspirations, and no matter what, that will shine through at some points in one’s creations. I learned a while ago during my music career to avoid your inspirations, favorite artists, or even anyone that is mildly in the same vein as what you do, while you’re in the creation process. Read more>>
Venise Bowen
I think what sets me apart from other artists is the fact that I don’t think conventional at all. I’m always willing to try new mediums and media. I got to where I am today by keeping the course, even when it seemed like I was failing the course and wanted to give up. It was not easy at all. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights, and early morning tears. Read more>>
Ines Vagu
Imposter syndrome can definitely feel like a big lie holding you back. I hear you! Ten years ago, moving to the US as a Latina in the culinary world, I felt like that exact same unfit piece in a giant kitchen puzzle. Here were these seasoned chefs, towering over me, speaking English fluently – it was intimidating. Read more>>
Reneta Jenik
Imposter syndrome is something I’ve wrestled with throughout my career, especially as I transitioned from being a high-tech executive to founding Foodom. The seeds of doubt often creep in, making you question your capabilities and accomplishments. But over time, I learned to harness these feelings as a driving force for growth and innovation. Read more>>
Shideh Shafie
As a young child I quickly learned that it’s okay to be an outsider. My family immigrated to a small college town and my parents weren’t academics like many others’ parents in the town; instead, they hustled by starting their own business ultimately creating a wonderful life for us. During that time, I often felt like an outsider, dreaming of a life more like those kids and promising myself that I one day would subscribe to The New Yorker—just like the academics that I was surrounded by. Read more>>
Olivia Nicole Hoffman
Whenever imposter syndrome crops up, I remind myself that I’m not curing cancer. Imposter syndrome is just the intense desire to do a good job. When I remind myself I love what I’m doing and no one’s life is at stake, I can get back on track. Read more>>
Wavy Films
I had to tell myself mentally everyday that I love what I do and it’s not just a hobby for me. I had to show not just myself but everyone around me that what I do is a passion. Read more>>
Britney Slater
As a YouTuber/Content Creator I overcame imposter syndrome before I even started because I always wanted to be authentic to who I am. The knowledge of having an audience who really trust me and cares about what I have to say has always meant the world to me and I have always known you can only act for so long! Read more>>
Douglas Weissman
I get hit by imposter syndrome all the time. It has nothing to do with how much I’ve been in a particular sector, who I’m talking to, or what project I’m working on. It’s generally present. The best way for me to overcome imposter syndrome time and time again is to remind myself I am providing others with my experience. I am not (as in, I am not the person) positioning myself as the expert, necessarily. Read more>>
Marcela Briere
Imposter syndrome is something many creatives and professionals face, and I’ve been no exception. For me, overcoming it has been a multifaceted process. One key strategy is to remind myself of my unique journey and the hard work I’ve put into my craft. I’ve had moments of doubt, especially because there’s been a lot of trial and error on my projects, but what helps is focusing on the positive feedback and success stories from my clients and workshop participants. Read more>>
Nat Lopez
Overcoming imposter syndrome hasn’t been easy, especially in an industry brimming with talented website designers. There’s always something new to learn, and sometimes it feels like I’m constantly playing catch-up. However, I’ve found that focusing on helping my clients bring their vision to life has made a big difference. Read more>>
Luke Asper
Overcoming imposter syndrome has been an important part of my journey. At first, I often felt like I didn’t belong or that my achievements were just luck. Realizing that many people feel this way helped me a lot. Read more>>
Lauren Topor
Truthfully, I don’t think you do. There’s something about looking fear in the face and showing up for yourself. To me, the uneasy feelings are just confirmation that you’re on the right path. Read more>>
Erica Mae McNeal
With being an actor, model, writer, director and (sometimes) a producer, and just working in this industry; imposter syndrome is something I’m very familiar with. Whenever I get in my head and start to doubt myself, I like to turn to podcasts, specifically Backstage’s “In The Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast” hosted by Vinny Mancuso. Read more>>
Ruibo Zhang
As an independent curator, many curatorial opportunities often feel like pure luck due to the lack of support from art organizations and funding. Even now, I often wonder if I am really capable of curating exhibitions. Read more>>
Melody Faith Dunlap
I overcome it consistently by returning to the foundational truth that I am a flawed human who was made in the image of an immaculate Creator. I’ve been blessed, so I want to be a blessing to others — whether it’s through giving my time, talents or treasures. Read more>>
Jolly Gonos
I had been living a whole life that wasn’t what I wanted. I was raised to be a protector and then I joined the military. My upbringing emulated through my time in the military and that’s where the impostor syndrome set in. Read more>>
