Celebrate Your Wins!

IMPOSTER SYNDROME

Sis, I’m not even gon’ hold you. The first time I heard this term, I thought fraud. Like fraudulent – like when CHASE calls or texts you to say they stopped a transaction because there seems to be fraudulent activity in your account. I went to the GOAT ie. Google, and learned that 'Impostor Syndrome' applied to folk who felt as though they were invalid even though they acquired major accomplishments and had proof to show for it. Then it had me thinking.

There were moments in my life where I’d achieved something and downplayed the results, because of the attention it brought me. We dedicate ourselves to the work that success requires but then we don’t actually take the time out to celebrate said success. Sometimes, in my opinion, it comes from this feeling of inadequacy. Feeling as though we aren’t competent enough to provide such work. My dear friend Wikipedia taught me that there is an impostor cycle. An individual may choose to over-prepare or procrastinate when given a task, and either contribute their success to luck or downplays the positive feedback, repetitively.

If you’re like me, you also have an issue accepting compliments, or taking credit for hard work. It may be on my looks, my hair, something I’m working on, a project, whatever it is, I’ll find a way to shrink the compliment. I’m not sure if it just feels weird to be praised or what but it’s my natural response. I’d always get an “oh my gosh your hair is beautiful” and then respond with “Oh really? I guess … honestly, I just brushed it up with some gel this morning”. Not to seem arrogant, but from my perspective, that’s really all I did. To the person paying the compliment, they might look at me and think I really devalued their compliment. Sometimes, just sometimes, its best to just accept and move on. No need to explain.

Impostor syndrome will have us out here looking crazy if we don’t learn to accept what is rightfully ours. Be graceful about what you own. It’s yours! Don't let the fear of support or being incompetent prevent you from being confident in what you have created. It trickles down and others will feel that energy. Boss up babe! Once your name is connected to it, you have rights to the property. Celebrate your wins!