Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from phenomenal artists, creatives and entrepreneurs who’ve successfully managed to overcome imposter syndrome.
Kristina Browning
I’m not sure I’ll ever truly “overcome” it because it follows me everywhere I go, but I often remind myself that others climb higher, aim bigger, and achieve success in various forms, so why not me? Who’s to say they don’t experience it too, yet still reach their goals despite it? The older I get, the more I realize we never truly know anyone else’s story. I adore documentaries for this reason. So perhaps many women standing on top are battling imposter syndrome as well. Knowing that’s a possibility keeps me trudging forward and pushing it off my shoulder. I learned the first time you do a thing, it’s always the scariest. It always feels the most awkward and unfamiliar, but just like when we all learned to hold a pencil, the more you do it, the better it feels. Imposter syndrome is heavy at first but the more we do the thing, the easier it is to brush that feeling off. It’s also interesting to think about creating a category and becoming that title you made up. You can’t really be an imposter if you’re the first one to do it so that’s another mark in my favor; imposter syndrome be damned (again!) Read more>>
Kristy Gardner
I didn’t. I don’t know a single writer or creative who, at times, doesn’t feel like they’re not good enough. Like they’ll be “found out” or exposed for being a fraud, or who doesn’t second guess their abilities to build something incredible.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned on my laptop and grappled with mild–debilitating?–panic when faced with the blank page of a new project. What if they hate it? What if it’s trash? What if I’ve run out of ideas and can’t even begin? Read more>>
Chris Marion
Getting over imposter syndrome is largely a battle of attrition. It requires a slow grind over a period of time. Aside from putting in a lot of work, for me the keys were listening and honest self critique. Whatever your trade, put yourself in the middle of experienced colleagues and listen. Make notes if you have to, but absorb what you hear and apply it to your skill set and craft. I have been incredibly fortunate to be in the presence of some wildly experienced and successful photographers. I heard the terms they used, what they placed importance on, and their perspective on the topics at hand. In those moments I kept quiet and tried to hear everything. Often I’d write down a term or product I was unfamiliar with and got myself familiar with it quickly. Read more>>
Danalyn Savage
Imposter syndrome started early. It showed itself in my belief that I was never good enough to be where I was and my constant effort to prove that I deserved to be in the room.
Growing up, I never seemed to fit in. I tried hard, but wasn’t great at anything in particular. I was overlooked and unseen. When that is a daily occurrence it can ultimately lead to believing you are less than. This was my experience. So when I was seen, it was always a surprise. Read more>>
Irene Rofail
Imposter syndrome is always something I have struggled with, no matter what medium I am working in. I feel as though it is a natural part of working as a creative. At what point am I no longer an amateur artist? When does the feeling really go away? If I am being honest, it never really went away. It took me a really long time to realize that being an artist doesn’t necessarily mean that I have to create something perfect, sometimes the real beauty is in capturing the imperfections and the moments surrounding them. It will take a lot of failures, and a lot of trial and error before finding something that is the best fit for you. Read more>>
Juri Rhyu
I wouldn’t say I’ve completely overcome imposter syndrome, but I’ve found a way to live with it—and even use it to my advantage. Instead of letting it hold me back, I’ve made peace with it. While it still makes me question my accomplishments, it also motivates me to push myself further and reminds me to stay grateful for the opportunities I’ve had. Read more>>
Rosia Parrish
Imposter syndrome is a challenge many women in medicine face, and I believe the very premise of this question highlights an underlying bias in our field. Women are often asked to justify their competence or recount their struggles with self-doubt, while men in similar positions are rarely asked the same. This inherent sexism in medicine is a reality I have faced and am committed to dismantling. Read more>>
Lauren Anderson
Still working on this honestly! I’ve found it super helpful to stay away from having a scarcity mindset. I used to have thoughts like “why should I continue to create content when there are so many other creators who have more followers, etc. than me”, but that is such a toxic mindset to have. This could apply to any career. There are always going to be plenty of opportunities for everyone out there, so it’s much healthier to live with an abundance mindset! Read more>>
Allison Bray
Overcoming imposter syndrome has been an evolving process for me. I once heard Martha Stewart discuss how she never felt imposter syndrome because she believed that if she got to a certain point, she deserved to be there. That perspective resonated with me and shifted my mindset.
Instead of doubting myself, I started acknowledging the hard work and dedication that brought me to where I am. If I’ve earned my seat at the table, I should own it confidently. Read more>>
David Jarvis
My one regret in life is that I’m not somebody else.
And also the haunting memories of lost love.
Our eyes met across the crowded hat store.
I, a customer, and she, a coquettish haberdasher.
Oh, I pursued, and she withdrew.
Then she pursued, and I withdrew.
And so we danced.
I burned for her, much like the burning during urination that I would experience soon afterwards.
I guess what I’m trying to say is “remember who you said you were the last time you talked to that person.” Read more>>
Robyn Dino
Imposter syndrome is a challenge I face. Here is my story and tips that help me and may help you. One of my first open mic nights was at the Bug Theatre, which had a packed house. Over a hundred people attended, and the stage was big and bare. After much deep breathing in the backroom, I came on stage and forgot the words to the song “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles. I quickly recovered and immediately had the audience sing out the first line, and I joined in. What was a horrible moment for us all became a united moment of kinship, music, and community. Read more>>
Cecilia Memor
The first time I became aware of experiencing imposter syndrome was when I applied to the University system. I was accepted by a couple of well known universities in the country. At that time, I visited all the campuses as I wanted to make an inform decision. One day when visiting one of the campus, it was lunch time, I had finished eating lunch, and on my way out the restaurant, there was a white woman from the Bay Area coming inside the facility. I was minding my own business while feeling overwhelmed by the decision I had to make. The woman and I crossed paths by the exit door, she looked at me from head to toe, and yelled at me “get out my way maid.” I was shocked. I went down a rabbit hole questioning and doubting myself for considering transferring to that university town. That woman’s action impacted my decision, and I ended up staying at a local university in LA where I could be surrounded by more people of color like me. Read more>>
Japel Porter
I overcame imposter disorder by having faith in God. I’ve always believed in myself through trials and tribulations that I would prosper. Though social media can play a role in this society, I believe that if you stay true to yourself and don’t get blinded by what others are doing, staying focus and consistent to reach your individual goals, you can achieve anything. The sky is the limit. Never give up on your dreams. Read more>>
Marcus Kwame
Imposter syndrome is something that many creative people deal with. The feeling that our success or recognition is somehow unearned or undeserved comes up frequently in my conversations with other artists. Those conversations were important in my overcoming imposter syndrome. Finding out that there is a name for this feeling, and that so many others experience it, helped to minimize the power that it once held in my mind. Additionally, I’ve always been a hard worker, constantly working on my personal and creative growth. I’ve put years of work into getting to where I am today, and when I think about all of the late nights of work that helped me get to the point that I’m at today, I know that it’s not an accident. To anyone dealing with imposter syndrome, resist it at all costs. It’s good to grow and improve, but imposter syndrome is not a path to progress. Read more>>
Naomi Hearts
This was such a hard thing to overcome!!! Growing up plus size, trans, and Latina. We are often othered and made to feel like we will never become anything! I overcame this by realizing that I am enough and that I am worthy! Every new space that I enter I make sure to let myself know that I am here for a reason! Read more>>
Sam Barone
Imposter syndrome is going to be felt no matter what. I just typed out answers to 6 of these other questions and deleted each one before coming back to this one. Why? I felt like I had no business talking like I’ve “figured things out.” Who am I to dole out intellectual anecdotes when in reality I have no clue how I overcome writers block (other than procrastination, and stress eating). I can’t trust myself to tell others how I do things because I don’t consider myself successful… which is a lot deeper than feeling like an “imposter” (and something I have to work on). I think behind every time someone feels “imposter syndrome” there’s a hard truth about themselves they’re not coming face to face to. But imposter makes it sound like we’re frauds. We’re not. We’re just people trying to be better. I’ll accept my truth and work on it. I can make a little list at the end of the week of my successes, or make a new (achievable) goal for each month, so I can remind myself to be proud of what I do. Read more>>
Zoe Young
People in their 30s are not supposed to start punk bands. You should be out of your f**k the man–burn it all down phase, right? Absolutely not! Overcoming imposter syndrome for us was about embracing that. What could be more countercultural than starting a punk band when you’re supposed to have your sh*t together.
At the outset of our band, The Furious Tits, we struggled to claim the title of “punk,” much less “band.” We had jobs, we generally paid our rent on time, and we had more 401Ks than body modifications. Read more>>
Shenyce Deokiesingh
We’ve all been there, myself included. There are still days when I feel overwhelmed, experience self-doubt, or shed tears. However, reminding myself of my”why” is what keeps me grounded and motivated to push forward. I’ve learned to take action, even if it’s just five minutes at a time; progress, no matter how small. Read more>>
Susie Dryden
As a voice actor, imposter syndrome is almost standard, especially when people are just starting in the industry. A lot of people come in thinking all you need is a good voice but voiceover requires a lot more than a nice sounding voice. The one thing that helped me overcome imposter syndrome was coaching. I had acting classes, took part in improv exercises via Zoom, learned all about marketing my business, mastered DAWs (digital audio workstations), and got advice on how to build a home studio on a budget. My acting coach taught me well and one point he drove home was to know my worth. I put in the effort, studied the craft, and developed confidence in my skills. Now, when imposter syndrome tries to rear its ugly head, I can hear my coach’s voice reminding me that I’m skilled and knowledgeable, and good at what I do. That means I’m worthy of being compensated well for those attributes. The only way to succeed is to have confidence in your craft, even if you need to fake it for a while. Every working voice actor will agree that coaching is the most effective way to avoid imposter syndrome. Read more>>
