We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alexis Junge a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alexis, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Honestly, I don’t think we ever really do overcome imposter syndrome. I think it’s important to understand that everyone experiences imposter syndrome at some point and in different ways. Even the most successful people in the world struggle with it, learning to recognize and deal with imposter syndrome differentiates those from being successful or not. It can feel very isolating but it helps knowing that we aren’t alone.
The biggest impact on my imposter syndrome was reshaping my mindset from competitive to collaborative. Instead of looking at everyone as my competition, I trained myself to be genuinely excited for others’ success. This was huge because it allowed me to focus more of my own energy on myself rather than others. When you focus all of your energy on yourself, it grows your confidence & capabilities. It also makes me more grateful & supportive to others. I look to others for inspiration & guidance, not to see what I “lack” in life.
Here are some other activities that helped me replace imposter syndrome with confidence:
-Make a list of all of the accomplishments I have & how they have led me to this point
-Daily affirmations, meditation, personal development
-Clear out people, places, or habits that do not support or align with the person I am becoming. Instead, surround myself with people who motivate and inspire me.
-Make vision boards yearly and hang them in my bathroom, room, work space, etc. so I have a constant reminder of my vision. It allows me to “see” the person I am becoming. It makes sure that I never forget.
-Connecting with people at art shows in person was a game changer because it allowed me to see real
genuine reactions to my art which gave me more confidence in my abilities.
Imposter syndrome is meant to keep you stuck. The goal is to use it as motivation to push you to become something better. Demonstrate with confidence just how good you are. Only you can show people how good you are. Confidence is key.
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?
I am the owner and artist of Lex Moderne. A bohemian home decor & art brand. I specialize in jewelry, candles, and concrete decor. I vend regularly at City Market here in KC!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. An ability to shift. Whenever something isn’t working, instead of giving up you shift your focus to trying something else.
2. Trying new things even when people said it wouldn’t work. Don’t let someone else’s opinion be the reason you didn’t try something new.
3. Being supportive. Supporting others builds community.
Put yourself out there! Sign up for local art shows and get face to face with people! Not only will you build confidence, but you’ll build community.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I try to tune out the outside noise. I am someone who needs a lot of alone time so I like to disconnect from the craziness of the outside world and refocus my energy to my priorities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lexmoderne.com
- Instagram: @lexmoderne
- Facebook: @lexmoderne
- Other: Etsy: lexmoderne.Etsy.com Tiktok: @lexmoderne Pinterest: @lexmoderne
Image Credits
Jessica Cordle Photography
