decolonizing imposter syndrome: creativity & unmasking
Do you feel it too? The slow, steady awakening from winter slumber? Perhaps you have a bit more energy, or maybe you're feeling that joy is more available with the daylight shift. Spring brings new beginnings and chances for personal growth.
Flowers bloom, and animals awaken from winter rest, ready to prepare for new birth. As we ease towards the spring equinox, March serves as a canvas for us to explore our creative potential. But for some of us, impostor syndrome can make us doubt our ability to be creative and reach our potential.
My Journey with Imposter Syndrome:
Allow me to share a piece of my own story. Navigating impostor syndrome as an autistic, Black, and queer individual has been complex and often difficult.
I use my creative energy to support divesting from harmful systems and building personal and collective ecologies that make us feel safe, loved, and a sense of belonging.
To support my intention as a healer and artist, it has been important to build an authentic self by unmasking. Without a mask, I can better follow my desires, work sustainably, and have healthy relationships.
But unmasking does make us vulnerable, especially when societal expectations conflict with our desires and needs. What are the risks you may have experienced unmasking in a world that isn’t always safe for us to be ourselves?
My journey toward overcoming impostor syndrome has been deeply intertwined with my spiritual path. Connecting with my ancestors in mindful and tangible ways supports me in remaining safe and reminds me of the divine nature of the creative spirit I’ve inherited.
Why Decolonize Our Relationship to Creation:
Creativity is not just about making beautiful things; it is about curating a new reality outside the confines of dominant culture. It’s about leaning into resistance in ways that honor our connection to ourselves and each other. To do that, we need to practice using our creative muscles and managing the discomfort that surfaces when we do.
We live in a world that often limits the full creative expression of marginalized identities. Our shared work is to acknowledge the historical roots of this systemic violence and find ways to safely make space for that full expression.
Decolonizing our relationship to creation is a crucial step in dismantling the barriers of impostor syndrome. It doesn't really matter what your medium of creation is—whether you are creating space for your grief and activism during this time of war or using watercolor to capture a robin that sits outside your window—it's about reclaiming our right to create, breaking free from the confines of external expectations, and honoring our unique voice.
In the healing spaces I am honored to facilitate, overcoming impostor syndrome is deeply intertwined with ancestral healing. Through decolonizing methodologies and healing collective trauma:
we are overcoming perfectionism,
we are listening to our nervous systems,
we are healing abandonment wounds,
we are breaking the cycle of generational trauma,
we are building rituals to recover from the impacts of systemic trauma.
I am a descendant of creative beings who dreamed their way into liberation. Creativity is my birthright. And it’s yours too.
Three Ways to Overcome Imposter Syndrome and Embrace Divine Creativity:
Cultivate Self-Compassion: Embrace the journey of self-discovery with compassion. Acknowledge that impostor syndrome is a shared experience, and you are not alone. That voice in your head that tries to diminish your worth and gaslight your ability is NOT the authority. Offer yourself the same kindness you extend to others, recognizing that growth is a continuous process. Become the NEW authority on your creativity. And make it a loving one through self-compassion exercises.
Connect with Ancestral Medicine: Tap into the wisdom of your ancestors. Explore spring cultural practices and honor traditions that celebrate resistance through creativity. By reconnecting with ancestral roots, you not only honor your heritage but also draw strength from the resilience embedded in your lineage. Your creative expression is a gift to those in your bloodline who had to make themselves smaller to survive.
Embrace Your Own Timeline: Liberate yourself from the pressures of external timelines dictated by capitalism trauma. Decolonize your approach to time and creativity by embracing your unique journey. Give yourself permission to create at a pace aligned with your capacity, available resources, and personal desires. Challenge the narrative that creativity must be rushed, and instead, find joy in a sustainable and personalized creative process. This has truly been a tough practice for me that I continue to embrace through art therapy activities. It also helps me to be in community with other beautiful creatives who are practicing this intentionally.
As we step into the unfolding beauty of spring, let's embark on a journey of decolonization – breaking free from the shackles of impostor syndrome and embracing our divine creative nature.
Together, we have the power to co-create a reality that transforms limiting beliefs and celebrates the inherent creativity within each of us.
Remember that healing systemic trauma is only possible in the collective, yet having individual tools supports our shared mission of liberation.
Paint this spring season of birth wildly and body. You deserve it.
With love and creative resilience,
V Woods 💚
