Meet Holly Meyers

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Holly Meyers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Holly , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Isn’t this the hardest and easiest question to answer ?
Overcoming Imposter syndrome.
Feeling like you don’t belong.

I think I haven’t overcome it, I feel I’ve learned to live with it and walk through it. That feeling like I don’t belong.
I think something that was hard became a gift. I moved alot , raising children as a single mom with income restrictions gave me the lack of freedoms to be social or do things others do freely with 2 incomes or free time or people helping them so they can do all the things they want or need.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I think it’s wonderful that others have support or no income restrictions.
But when one does, it becomes easy to not have time to think what others think of me.
In that, I found comfort being myself because I was responsible for myself and 2 other humans.
And that drive of needing more in my life was bigger than me feeling inadequate.
I think one can always feel a little like they don’t belong. But you do belong just as i do.
Authentically, and in whatever capacity you show up.
It isn’t easy, but our world is built on income, resources, and 2 income households.
In my life, I decided it was easier for me to be on my own to create a beautiful life for me and my children (now adults) .
That also means I don’t have time to feel as if I don’t belong. Others who make / made me feel that way don’t help me, don’t pay for my life, or do anything for my life.
I’ve found that focusing on what I authentically need or feel drawn to has gifted me the ability to not feel so much an imposter it would stop me from trying.
I hope others know they belong. You have to think about your gifts more than feeling as if you don’t belong. Focus on your goals, dreams that you’re turning into reality.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an artist and creative, Mom, cat mom, and hairstylist / suite owner.
I am grateful I have slowly been able to carve out my life to be fully a creative professional.
I must confess it ebbs and flows with projects, and that’s the great thing about working for myself as a hairstylist and artist.
I’ve been able to work with news anchors , makeup/ hair for magazines, I’ve had the pleasure of working for a group called Design for a Difference, a nonprofit that redesigns non profits in communties and raise awareness of them. It raises money for the non-profit as well as a makeover for places, which is a very great way to create community care. I, as an artist, work with designers and paint murals.
I’ve used art to raise money for organizations for bodily autonomy and human rights thru Nasty women shows in nyc and Oakland, ca. I’ve worked with moveon.org for a social media takeover and creating awareness and art to donate.
I’ve had gallery shows in dream locations and that was one of my true joys.
Those creative endeavors truly made me feel fulfilled in being able to donate time and art when maybe I didn’t have the ability to donate money.
For the last 3 and a half years, I’ve invested into myself and am a hairstylist and owning my own suite.
I decided to open my own suite during the pandemic. Which was extremely hard for a lot of people.
It created a divide on how we got to pay bills and care for ourselves.
In that hardship, I felt I had a crossroads to decide what path I would follow. It felt like the right time, and I am thankful to work in a community that supported me during that move.
Being a hairstylist had meant the world to me. It has supported me and my children for almost 30 years.
It also gave me the gift of meeting so many amazing people and learning so much !!!!
As of now, I’ve been enjoying the steady of suite ownership and working for myself. The world has changed so much these past 5/ 6 years, and as a person who works with the public, I like being able to do what I do. Growing my skills thru classes and finding what I love doing within my creative career.
I’ve been slowly working on Art for an exhibition one day but sometimes life gives us other plans and so I’m slowly getting steady on the other side of my creative life.

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?

Self survival. Knowing when to walk away. Having a creative mind and working with that in this world and having responsibilities is something that is important to find a balance with.
I hope younger folks know their worth , focus on themselves and their dreams and honor those dreams and ask, ask for help or information on how to make those come true. Even if it’s not possible right away.
If you’re still thinking of it, grieving you can’t do it. Then keep on.
Journal , research. Anything to keep a little bit of knowledge growing even if it takes years.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

Currently my life has changed dramatically and in honoring the privacy of the situation i can only say, don’t give up.
The life you have, is here to support the hard waves of life. I think this ” challenge ” is consuming and yet requires all my energy and care.
I couldn’t have had a better life in the worst of circumstances and that is what I am grateful for.
The what ifs can be haunting but I know I’ve worked for this foundation in the midst of this hard thing happening.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hollymeyersart.wixsite.com/my-site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiraeth_art/

Image Credits

Holly meyers