We recently connected with Aiyana Da’Briel and have shared our conversation below.
Aiyana, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is a tricky character – it eats away in the back of your brain, feasting on insecurities of simply not being enough for the challenge in front of you. Not old enough, not strong enough, not smart enough, not the right skin or gender or class. It is a predatory bully that pits us against better versions of ourselves and says that we will never get there.
I have had a rough battle with imposter syndrome; always being the only woman or black person or the youngest in the room or some intersectional bridge of all three. I’ve questioned why opportunities come my way if there must be someone better for it; more equipped, elegant, palatable. It has taken a while for me to realize the quite simple answer: I am as deserving as the next person.
It does not matter if I might not be the smartest person on the team because I might be the most innovative and not even realize it. I bring gifts to a space that sometimes I don’t even realize are within me and that is bound to be true ever single time.
There is no reason to question why opportunities are handed to us, why gifts are given to us, why we are put in positions that might seem out of our bounds. Someone or something out there knows that we are supposed to be where we are in these exact moments, whether it be because we are needed the most or because we needed it the most. If it is not my time to be the wisest, it is my time to simply soak up all that is given. If it is not my time to be the leader then sometimes it is okay to just follow closely. Do not mistake this though, whether you feel equipped are not, there is no need to feel out of place; the opportunity is yours and someone has called you for it. You already have everything to need. You are not the imposter, you are the standard.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Poet born and raised in Los Angeles that focuses on self love and affirmations. My first poetry book, Little Black Poetry Book shares stories of child love, revelations, and growing within the body I have been blessed with.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities I believe have gotten me to the state that I am at now are determination, optimism, and the release of ego.
I have learned that in our goals and fights you have to keep your head high and not take things personal when they do not go your way. If one door closes, there are three that will appear on your journey. You have to lean on your faith and hope that things always work in your favor because once you genuinely believe it, they will.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest area of growth has been letting things roll off my back and keeping my confidence even when things don’t go as I wanted them to. I have had a lot of wins in the past 12 months and a few losses but I didn’t let the losses take me out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aiyanashaniel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiyanashaniel?igsh=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/
- Other: https://www.worldstagepress.org/product/little-black-poetry-book-by-aiyana-shaniel/
Image Credits
Joshua Francis
