By Dr Jewyl Gibson
You Are Enough: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Your Worth It was a typical weekday for Renae. The alarm buzzed at 5:30 a.m., pulling her from a restless sleep into the reality of another busy day. Before her feet even touched the floor, the weight of a never-ending to-do list flooded her mind like a relentless tide, each task crashing against her inner peace. Emails to send. Meetings to lead. Deadlines to meet. Appearances to keep. Renae moved through her morning routine like a machine, her mind already in overdrive. The world saw her as a high achiever—she was beautiful, driven, successful, and unstoppable. But what the world didn’t see was the overwhelming exhaustion lurking beneath the surface. Despite a full night’s sleep, Renae had become an expert at hiding her mental, emotional and spiritual exhaustion behind a polished exterior. She showed up to events she loathed, forced smiles that were rehearsed and navigated office politics with a grace that was nothing short of fake. She collected academic degrees, certifications, promotions, and public accolades hoping they would silence the voice in her head that whispered these loud words to her mind and spirit: "YOUR’RE STILL NOT ENOUGH." Every day, she ignored her own needs, masked her physical and mental fatigue, and denied herself the luxury of vulnerability. When asked how she was doing, her response was automatic: "I’m fine." But she wasn’t fine. She was tired of pretending, tired of proving, tired of fighting to justify her place in a world that should already recognize her worth. And yet, the fear lingered. "WHAT IF THEY SEE THROUGH ME? WHAT IF THEY REALIZE I’M NOT AS CAPABLE AS THEY THINK? WHAT IF I FAIL?"
January 2025
30
