Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Embracing Success and Gratitude
Have you ever found yourself saying, “I can’t believe it,” in response to something unique happening to you? Perhaps it’s a promotion, recognition, or achievement you’ve worked hard for yet struggled to accept fully. In this blog, I delve into my journey of grappling with imposter syndrome, the impact of organizational culture, and the importance of embracing success with gratitude.
Sometimes, we say, “I can’t believe” about something unique that happened to us. Usually, I use this phrase after some big and exciting news comes along, and I have time to let the amazement settle in. I recently posted a new photo of myself for work on my social media pages. I had to take new photos because I was promoted in December. I learned about my promotion in June last year, so I’ve known about this news for a while now. However, it wasn’t until yesterday that I had a chance to process that I was promoted indeed. I’ve been working in my organization for almost 16 years, so it should be no surprise that I earned another promotion. Still, I remembered yesterday that the reason why I never indeed celebrated, acknowledged, or believed my promotion is because I don’t take the time to get excited about things, both big and small.
Firstly, to say I can’t believe something unique has happened to me is wild because these are the things I’ve prayed about night and day. These are prayers that my family and friends prayed that have been answered. These are prayers that my mom, who is no longer here with us, prayed before her passing. This is just another lesson in imposter syndrome. I can’t believe it because I don’t feel that the space I’m in is where I should be, even though my knowledge, skills, ability, leadership, hard work, and ethics got me here. Imposter syndrome is when someone doesn’t believe in the success they are receiving despite tangible evidence that they are a high-performing individual. This is me all of the time, and a lot of this, unfortunately, comes from organizational culture.
I can recount several instances at the beginning of my career where I felt like no matter how high I performed, I still was not going to be good enough to receive the evaluation, recognition, or recommendations my peers received. This is not a conversation about me feeling unworthy but more about how other people’s biases can affect how you perceive yourself in the future. I know that I worked hard, and I know that I earned my promotion; however, the beginning years of my career, where I was treated differently because of others’ biases, are still ingrained in the back of my mind.
Now, this may be a bit confusing. I do believe that I should be promoted, should have my job, and should be recognized because I put in the work. However, unbelief sets in because I don’t take the time to sit and be grateful. I treat everything like it’s just another day. I don’t want to be made a big deal about for fear of disappointment if it doesn’t go as intended. I also want to say how I react to good news has nothing to do with those closest to me in life but everything to do with those who are not, and now, in my almost middle age, I’m making some significant realizations.
Sometimes, we care way too much about what others think. We let unchecked biases and unsolicited opinions from the past resurface whenever we achieve something. We worked hard to get where we are. This is something we must remember so that we don’t end up in disbelief about the good things happening in our lives.
In a world where external pressures and biases can cloud our perception of success, it’s crucial to cultivate a sense of gratitude and self-worth. By recognizing our achievements, embracing success with humility, and surrounding ourselves with supportive communities, we can overcome imposter syndrome and fully embrace the amazing things happening in our lives. Let’s strive to celebrate ourselves and each other, acknowledging that we are worthy of every success we achieve.
