Meet Mélanie Sánchez

We recently connected with Mélanie Sánchez and have shared our conversation below.

Mélanie, 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 don’t think I’ve “overcome” imposter syndrome in the traditional sense.
It’s not something I defeated and left behind—it’s something I’ve learned to sit with, question, and gently shift when it arises.

When I was younger, I felt like I didn’t quite belong. I grew up comparing myself to others, feeling like I wasn’t good enough, like I was always falling short. I internalized the message that there was always someone “better” than me—more talented, more confident, more deserving.

I often asked, Where do I fit in? I longed for belonging, for validation. After multiple burnouts—and surprisingly, with the help of menopause (yes, there is a positive!)—I came to a deeper realization: the belonging I was seeking could never come from the outside. It had to come from within.
What I realized, after slowing down, is that we try so hard to relate and connect that we forget to anchor within first. That’s what leads to imposter syndrome—when we try to become someone else just to feel accepted.

In the workplace, I went through the motions, performing and pushing through, trying to meet impossible standards I had set for myself. I took on perfectionism like a second skin—always striving, rarely satisfied. Criticism felt personal. I held other people’s opinions higher than my own truth.

Eventually, I realized that the loudest voice telling me I wasn’t enough… wasn’t mine. It was borrowed—from the past, from society, from others’ projections. And I had to decide: do I keep listening to it?

People often called my art “just a hobby,” and I believed them. I pushed it aside, telling myself it didn’t matter—that I was an imposter for calling myself an “artist.” But deep down, I was scared to be seen—really seen. What if people didn’t understand it, or worse, didn’t care?

But over the last year and a half, I’ve been on a profound spiritual journey—one of softening, surrender, and coming home to myself. I’ve been working through limiting beliefs and learning to trust in the unknown.

Today, I use watercolor as a form of meditation and journaling. It’s a medium that resists control—fluid, unpredictable, alive. It lets me show up imperfectly. It reminds me that I don’t need to control everything. It doesn’t let me overplan or strive for perfection. And in that, there is no “imposter.”
Only presence. Only play.
What unfolds may not be polished—but it’s honest. And that honesty is everything.

What I’ve come to understand is that imposter syndrome, at its core, is rooted in comparison.
But comparison to what, exactly?
Often, it’s not even to real people—it’s to an imagined ideal of who we should be. We try to fit into those molds, not realizing they were never really ours. And so we feel like imposters.

Today, I see imposter syndrome less as a threat and more as a moment to pause and ask:
Am I listening to the voice of fear… or to the voice of truth within me?

That quiet truth—the one that speaks through the body, the breath, the brushstroke—is never trying to prove anything.
It just wants to express what’s real.
And that, I believe, is where our authenticity and sovereignty begin.

If imposter syndrome rears its head, I show up anyway—honestly, imperfectly, as I am.
I’ve learned that not trying at all is the only real failure. Every attempt, even if messy, is one more way I’ve chosen truth over fear.

It reminds me of the quote by Thomas Edison:

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Or this one by Vincent van Gogh:

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”

Now, I’m creating sacred spaces for others too—what I call portals, not just workshops.
These aren’t about fixing anyone, but about helping people remember themselves.
Each one is a creative, mindful invitation to slow down, explore, and come back to what’s real.

If you’ve ever felt like an imposter, I see you. I’ve been there. And I still have those days.
But I also know this:
You can’t be an imposter of your own life.
You are the only one living it.
That makes it valid. That makes it yours. That makes it enough.

We are each walking a path only we can walk.
There is no copy, no duplicate, no measure for your authenticity.
You are not an imposter.
You are the original source of your story.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m an intuitive artist and mindful creativity facilitator currently developing Paint Your Codex—an evolving art practice and a series of creative experiences designed to help people reconnect with their inner truth, creative voice, and sense of soul-sovereignty.

My own path has taken me through burnout, self-doubt, and periods of deep disconnection from my creative spark. Watercolor became one of my greatest teachers—fluid, unpredictable, and beautifully uncontained. It helped me release perfectionism, trust the unknown, and express what’s real. That practice has now become a portal for others, too.

Through Paint Your Codex, I’m launching a series of creative and mindful workshops—intentional spaces for exploration, inner listening, and soul expression. These aren’t about learning how to paint—they’re about remembering your essence. We explore color, energy, intuition, and sacred geometry as tools for self-remembrance and authentic expression.

In parallel, I also offer graphic and web design services for artists, entrepreneurs, and heart-led creatives who want to visually express their unique essence with clarity and beauty. I’m currently redesigning my website to reflect this new creative chapter.

Whether you’re an artist, a seeker, or someone in transition, I believe there’s something here for you.

Art & Design Inquiries
Website: melaniesanchez.com (in redesign)
Email: meliesanchez@gmail.com
Instagram: @melieart

Paint Your Codex – Portal Workshops
Website: paintyourcodex.com (coming soon)
Email: paintyourcodex@gmail.com
Instagram: @paintyourcodex

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?

The Three Most Impactful Lessons (That I’m Still Learning)
These aren’t qualities I’ve mastered and moved on from—they’re ones I return to again and again. Life isn’t linear; it’s a spiral. The same lessons circle back with new depth each time.

And here’s something I’ve come to believe:
Imposter syndrome is rarely the root—it’s an echo.
It usually shows up when I’ve drifted from myself, when I’m comparing, performing, or trying to meet someone else’s version of “enough.” It’s not something to fix, but something to listen to. It’s a message that it’s time to come back to my own rhythm, voice, and truth.

1. Trusting Myself & Following Intuition
One of the biggest shifts for me was learning to trust myself—especially that quiet inner voice. Intuition doesn’t always come with certainty or logic, but it always leads me back to truth. For anyone just starting out: give yourself space to listen. Your intuition might sound like a whisper, a nudge, or even a color or feeling—follow it anyway.

2. Learning to Pause & Feel
I used to push through everything—burnout, self-doubt, overwhelm—until I realized that slowing down was actually what helped me move forward. Getting honest with how I felt, and creating space to feel it, helped me reconnect. My advice? Don’t see rest or reflection as a weakness. Your feelings hold wisdom, and your energy matters more than your output.

3. Letting Go of Perfection & Playing More
Perfectionism kept me stuck for years. What helped was finding a creative practice—like watercolor—that doesn’t want to be controlled. It taught me to let go, to be curious, to respond rather than plan everything. If you’re creating anything: give yourself permission to play. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.

Let your inner child out to play. Be in nature. Get out of your head and into your senses. Notice what lights you up—what makes time stand still or disappear altogether. That’s presence.

And when things feel unclear, try setting an intention:
How do I want to show up today?
Even asking the question can gently bring you back to yourself.

Above all, be kind with yourself. Growth isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s just a quiet choice to come home to who you already are.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m not actively seeking a traditional business partner—but I am open to aligned collaborators, sacred space-holders, or even supporters who believe in the power of creativity, healing, and presence.

Right now, my biggest challenge is finding the right physical space in or near Montreal where I can begin practicing and hosting my Paint Your Codex workshops. I’m looking for a calm, energetically supportive environment—something that feels more like a sanctuary than a studio—where people can slow down, reconnect, and create with soul.

I also hold a bigger vision: one day relocating or expanding these workshops to a beachside or retreat setting, where creative energy flows freely with nature. If someone feels called to support that vision—whether by sharing space, resources, or aligned connections—I’m open to conversations that feel grounded and mutually inspired.

At the same time, I’m learning how to share this work more publicly. Marketing doesn’t always come easily when the work is so personal and soul-led, so finding the right people to walk beside—cheerleaders, allies, co-creators—feels especially meaningful right now.

If something here speaks to you—if you have a space, a connection, or even just encouragement to offer—please feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear from you.

paintyourcodex@gmail.com
Or DM me on Instagram: @paintyourcodex

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melaniesanchez.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melieart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniesanchez/
• Other: https://paintyourcodex.com/
  https://www.instagram.com/paintyourcodex/

Image Credits

Portrait photo by Giulia Ippolito (@atelier_giulia)
(Mel-pose.jpg)