We recently connected with Bridgette Lee Martinez and have shared our conversation below.
Bridgette Lee, 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.
Short answer: I haven’t. This is okay. It’s okay that I haven’t overcome imposter syndrome and it’s okay if you haven’t.
Imposter syndrome affects everyone worldwide due to how many “voices” we hear every day. Those voices exist from friends, family, celebrities, religion, social media posts and videos, news articles, past trauma, or even heroes that we look up to. Imposter syndrome comes from our inability to trust that we are good enough as ourselves.
For most of us there is a small voice in the back of our mind saying “You could be better” is different than “You’ll never be better”. Of course we could all be “better” at our jobs, careers, hobbies, time with family, and other ways we invest our time. However, many times we believe we may never be “better”. That’s where we get stuck inside of imposter syndrome. We start to unravel and believe that maybe we aren’t cut out for what we do. An “imposter” takes over and berates us while we swim to the surface hoping that we can just make it out alive.
Something that has helped me in these circumstances is just taking a step back, looking at everything I’ve accomplished and looking forward to everything I still have yet to achieve.
No, we aren’t perfect. No, we may not be experts in our field. However, life is meant for enjoying not surviving. You are good. Repeat that. “I am good.”
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Instead of focusing on what I do day to day as I usually do in these articles, I am going to focus on my new venture this year. After years of performing in productions I have decided I wanted to take a different route this year with my creativity. I may still perform on the stage if I find a part that I will enjoy. However, am back in voice lessons and am tapping back into song writing. It had been a long time since I have put pen to paper and fingers to the keys. I am so excited to start this journey and I am giving myself a lot of grace through this process. I’m starting at the beginning again and hoping to find something I enjoy as well as am great at. If in the end I find that this is just a hobby that brings me joy then I will take that. Life is about finding the joy isn’t it?
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Decision making, flexibility, and courage. I enjoy a quick decision. Give me 5 items to pick from and under two seconds I have the answer to my choice. I do not usually get along with those who cannot make a quick decision. Life is too short to ponder every outcome that could come from a choice. I do understand that can be my downfall at times, but I’ll take my chances. Flexibility, not in the limbs, but in last minute changes. I am open to changes and discomfort. I believe this may come from being in any different social situations growing up and also having a performance background. I welcome different outlooks on situations and am comfortable making changes if needed. Lastly, I know what I have courage. The courage to do what’s right, the courage to admit when I’m wrong, and the courage to make things right. I’m a flawed human. Being able to make decisions quickly and adapt to change means I often have to have the courage to fix my mistakes. If there’s any advice I can give to those struggling with courage it would be to remind yourself that timid choices don’t bring about big change. If you have the courage to make strong and scary choices then you will see amazing and sometimes magical results.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
This year I am excited to start partnerships in creativity. I want to grab life hard and run a marathon with it. I am currently waiting to see about getting surgery on my spine for multiple herniated disks. In a few weeks I will be getting surgery on my foot for a heel spur. After that I’m pretty sure I’ll be invincible. I’ve been in so much daily pain for so long that I forgot our bodies aren’t supposed to feel this way. I have so much hope going forward that I want to see what I can do. Let’s start a band! I need a new agent. Let’s make a TV show. I’m open to all possibilities. Maybe I’ll get to run again too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/bridgetteleemartinez?fbclid=PAAab2MR-n1ebOaWJ6ps7GU68y4t2xrZ5d97YT5ZVACT3ByHaIAzjnogU6z2M_aem_AXb4LayrL07BGa0eQaheKlUXTVYD9TmGkTH0El5NnWAgbfG8kKza4j-Xn0SxIPLYlB8
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetteleemartinez?igsh=MWo3b2N3YzI4OWcwcQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
