Stepping into My Skin and Out of My Doubt
On finding my own in the era of imposter syndrome
In the last few years, I have spent a lot of intentional time telling myself that I am qualified and a certified badass in my professional life, even when I didn’t quite believe myself. It took a lot of faking it until I was finally making it to feel like I had arrived, like I wasn’t a complete unqualified disaster.
As I gained more experience in dealing with the unexpected and the chaos that comes with responsibility, I slowly pushed out the imposter syndrome that had decided to book a long-term stay in the back room of my consciousness. I think this experience is all too common, especially for women in leadership.
I was very fortunate to have parents who believed and still believe in my potential. Nevertheless, I received the same subliminal messages that every little girl does — the messages that manifest in the quiet lurking self-doubt that never fully goes away — at least for me.
Even in situations where I am objectively qualified and deserve to have a seat at the table, it takes conscious effort to validate that to myself.
In the midst of a job search that challenges that progress every damn day, it takes even more intentionality to remind myself that I have skills and experience that bring value.
I don’t have the secret to overcoming imposter syndrome — no quick tricks or hacks to reprogramming your brain if you are similarly afflicted. It takes daily work to slowly undo the socialization that young woman experience.
Some days are easier than others. Leaning into the discomfort is the only authentic way to accept that experience and try to move past it.
Ultimately, the ethos of imposter syndrome comes down to a fear of failure, a fear of being exposed as incompetent and arrogant for portraying competence.
Realistically though, failure is a huge part of life. If you’re doing it right, you should fail a little bit every day.
By putting yourself in situations to fail or make mistakes, you’re doing the most genuine thing you can do — choosing to live life fully and messily.
Actual imposters are those who refuse to try, to take risks.
To be an imposter is to be a fake, to play it safe, to put on a front.
The antidote is to be real, to be honest, and to walk in the power that comes with knowing who you are and releasing any shame that comes from that.
By refusing to be embarrassed by failure or imperfections, we walk out of the shadows and into the light of our own power.
