Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marybeth Davis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Marybeth, 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.
I spent most of my childhood succeeding easily at nearly everything I attempted. I scored off the charts in standardized tests, excelled in music and art, and exhibited strong leadership skills. But reality comes for us all eventually. Though I’m still an adept learner, I continuously find people who are better than me at the things I pursue.
I write fantasy stories for young adults who want complex themes alongside that reading-under-the-covers thrill–but there are authors who write about life in more raw and beautiful ways than I do. I want to run a successful cleaning company and be a good boss–but there are companies with wider profit margins and better employee benefits than mine. I want to be a good artist and animator, but holy crabapples, does my patience on each frame need work.
I got so used to being the best as a kid that I didn’t know who I was without it.
When I realized that, though, I was able to face up to the lies. Why was it okay for others to just be themselves, but not me? Why did I have to be the best? Did it really matter?
The solution to imposter syndrome isn’t just “fake it til’ you make it”, though that can be helpful at times. When we can look in the mirror and realize we’re not enough–and that’s okay–we can start to breathe. My peace is found through knowing my identity rests in God. Even if I lose all my talents and friends, I am beloved by him. And that is enough. When your identity rests on a deeper foundation than your skill, your brilliance, your effort, or your talent, you’ll have the peace to actually pursue what you’re made for with abandon.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My passion is to write stories that unite the thrill of fantasy with the layers of truth that we only really understand as we grow up. People are so beautiful and so complicated. Sometimes, we need to see a piece of ourselves in a fictional character to really understand what’s going on inside us.
That’s why I write characters like Abidan, a 15-year-old street kid whose magical mist powers bring him more trouble than help. He’s dedicated to caring for Matthias, another abandoned child, even if it means skipping meals and charming his way around dangerous situations. But what will he do when a sickness threatens the boy he’s built his life around? If he can’t protect the one person he cares about, who even is he?
Though most of my readers have never been a parentified street kid, many of them know what it is to pour so much of themselves into something or someone that they forget why they did it in the first place. They know what it is to fear change and loss. They know what it is to face scary decisions that lead to bittersweet endings. And they need to know what it is to hope.
My writing explores all kinds of themes like these in fantastical settings. Destroying mists, assassins, life-giving trees, mysterious societies–you’ll find them all in my books. If you want to learn more about them–and meet Abidan in my upcoming free novella–you can sign up for my email list here! (Link: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1056280/132565192222443255/share) You can also check out my website here. (Link: https://www.marybethdaviscreative.com/)
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?
1. Humility. Not having to be the best or smartest person in the room brings you so much peace, and you learn so much more when you can sit at the feet of those further ahead than you. Take a deep breath and don’t freak out about not being at the top. There’s beauty in this stage, too; take it for what it is.
2. Love. When our goals are borne of selfish ambition, our legacy will be nothing but selfish ambition. Focus your eyes on the reason behind your goal. Are you just trying to prove a reputation, or are you serving someone bigger than yourself?
3. Resilience. Through my homeschool career, my mother never let me use “that’s too hard” as an excuse. Though the work she gave me was challenging, it taught me that I could accomplish more than what my feelings told me I could. If something seems too difficult or big to handle, give it a shot anyway. You only learn through experience what your limits actually are. And if you fail, that’s okay, too. Just use it as a learning experience so you can improve next time.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel like life is out of control, it’s usually because I’ve lost my focus. I have to remember the reason behind everything I’m doing if I want to bring things back into order. So if I get overwhelmed, the best thing I can do is set aside my work and spend time communing with God and serving those around me. Once that’s back in focus, I can make my work a means to that ultimate goal rather than an end in itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marybethdaviscreative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marybethdavisauthor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marybeth.davis.779857/
- Other: Email list signup: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1056280/132565192222443255/share
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