So what is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is an overwhelming feeling that you don’t deserve success. It convinces you that you are not intelligent enough, creative, or talented. 

Can you believe that? There are womxn who have worked for years crafting their talent and skills they believe they don’t deserve it?

It’s crucial to remember we are not born feeling less worthy than others, but it is a result of continually being treated as though we are not enough. When you experience systemic oppression directly or indirectly your entire life, that you are less-than or not worthy of success and then you begin to achieve things, it goes completely against that ingrained long-standing narrative you have created. This will inevitability result in imposter syndrome. 

Imposter syndrome is not merely a lack of confidence – it is the logical outcome of a world that was never designed for womxn to be successful through internalised misogyny. It’s not that womxn do not believe in themselves, it’s more the world refuses to believe in womxn. 

I get messages all the time from womxn on how I have the confidence and courage to post my work, my ideas, my thoughts and ignore the misogynistic comments I inevitably receive from putting myself out there.

In Michelle Obama’s book, she has written about how as a young woman, she would lie awake at night asking herself: Am I too loud? Too much? Dreaming too big? “Eventually I just got tired of always worrying what everyone else thought of me.”

Quiet that inner voice and next time it tells you that you are not good enough or that you don’t belong. Remind yourself:

• I am worthy
• I am talented
• I am smart
• I am enough
• I deserve this.

I want to remind any womxn reading this, that they can achieve their goals. To be fearless. To be unapologetic. To know they are worthy of everything they want and so much more. 

Don’t let that inner voice stop you.