"I Don't Belong Here": What is Imposter syndrome and what can you do to tackle it?
Original Post Date: Feb 1, 2023
“After countless rounds of checking goals off my list followed by self-doubt, I realized I was suffering from imposter syndrome.”
Hello everyone. Happy first day of Black History Month. I want to kick things off by discussing a topic that affects black people, especially black women. Let’s talk about Imposter syndrome.
I’ve expanded my portfolio at an exponential rate since deciding my intended career path. I’ve fearlessly connected with the individuals I needed to surround myself with to foster success. I’ve even created a nature of productivity that’s resulted in reaching goals months before I intended. (As I reread this, I sound pretty badass!) Despite all of this, I still questioned my belonging in my field. I’ve never felt more connected to a career path but I wonder if others will recognize this. Will they consider my credentials worthy of certain roles? Is my level of creativity high enough to compare to thousands of other students? Am I creative enough to call myself a creative?
After countless rounds of checking goals off my list followed by self-doubt, I realized I was suffering from imposter syndrome.
I was confused at first because I wasn’t quite sure what this condition was. My eyes were accustomed to the frequency of its discussion on social media but my brain was not comprehending its definition. So what is it? In an article titled "Overcoming Imposter Syndrome", Harvard Business Review defines Imposter syndrome, in as:
“a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success.”
I could finally identify my state of mind. I was relieved to no longer feel like I was in an unknown mental space. Scared, because how do I overcome this? Frustrated, because why can’t I just feel at ease in a space I feel a natural attraction to? Not surprised that, because of my identity as a female minority, I was all the more susceptible.
BBC explores the newly originated syndrome, in their article “Why imposter syndrome hits women and women of colour harder”. Sheryl Nance-Nash, the author of the article, explains that,
“When you experience systemic oppression or are directly or indirectly told your whole life that you are less-than or underserving of success and you begin to achieve things in a way that goes against a long-standing narrative in the mind, imposter syndrome will occur.”
Additionally, they offer findings from a study conducted by LeanIn, a female-centered organization.
“Its 2019 research shows that for every 100 men brought onto teams and elevated to management, only 72 women experience the same thing.”
Great! Another item to add to the forever-growing list of conditions that black people are at high risk for. It seems like we’re faced with new issues constantly. Grasping the fact that being a black woman made me at risk led to emotions of distraught and anger. Despite my negative emotions, I wasn’t going to let this new syndrome deter me. At this point, I was relieved but still lost. I had the foundation but I needed the tools to combat my conflicting feelings. I started to brainstorm affirmations to remind myself, during times of doubt. Three things assured me and shifted my self-esteem.
You are not the first and only person to live this experience.
As much as social media topics become repetitive, the frequent mention of imposter syndrome felt comforting. The thought-out condition is new to our society, but the feelings associated aren’t rare. I felt affirmed as I browsed videos and tweets of individuals sharing their own emotions.
There are thousands of people who want to execute an idea but you’re the only you.
As I enter the professional creative space, I realize the immense talent present. While there are plenty of new concepts, creations, and brands presented to us every day, many are quite similar. For example, with the rising importance of showcasing police brutality, we see many artists who choose to center their work around these incidents. Now while these individuals have chosen the same focal points, we perceive them differently because of their artistic style. Each artist has the same objective, but their execution diversifies them. When you fear your ability to measure up to others, remind yourself of the elements that you uniquely contribute.
Your willingness to put in effort towards my goal qualifies you.
My last realization has been the most essential, but hardest to accept. Acknowledging my strengths forced me to surrender humility. I had to acknowledge the commitment and productive habits I’ve demonstrated during my professional journey. I encourage you to do the same as you battle overwhelming thoughts. Pick up your journal, adopt some arrogance, and list all the great things about your work ethic. You’ll feel better about your belongingness and may even leave with a few skills to add to your resume.
I have to laugh to myself. The irony of this post on this blog. Let me explain. I was suffering from anxious thoughts as the launch date quickly approached. A few weeks before my announcement, I even considered forgetting the idea. Who am I to call myself a writer? Are they even going to believe what I’m saying? Will I choose captivating topics to keep their attention? Will they even read the post? And look at me now, proudly and confidently identifying as a writer, finding methods to add to my credibility, and being overwhelmed with ideas for new pieces.
With Love,
Allie
