OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

If I had a dollar for every time I heard, “Aaron, you do not give yourself enough credit” it could be another stream of income. For the majority of my teenage and young adult years, I’ve struggled with my self-esteem and not being able to see myself in a positive light. I grew up in environments where I was picked at, picked on, and picked apart about my flaws more than I was celebrated for my difference. I guess I internalized that negative perspective and turned it into the shady lens I’d use to see myself.

This is what we now call *cues ominous voice* Imposter Syndrome! Imposter Syndrome is defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It can feel like personal incompetence that persists despite your education, experience, and accomplishments. Quite frankly, it’s the worst and to add insult to injury, social media amplifies this to tenth power. But there is hope to this story.

While I may still wrestle with this “inner demon” I wanted to acknowledge a few saving graces that keep me going. First, spirituality is a lifeline for me and helps to get me back on track. Secondly, I have the most amazing friends that I can go to. They don’t tell me what I want to hear, they hold me accountable and hold space for me to air out my insecurities, then love me back to life. Lastly, and I say this humorously of course, I have to positively beat the imposter syndrome up!  Jabbing with good thoughts and compliments about myself and taking a moment to receive the good things about me before poking at the negative.

I am very much still battling imposter syndrome, but I thank God for the tools to fight valiantly and my dope village who remind me of who I am and what I’ve done daily. Also, to you reader, I want to empower you in saying this, You are beautiful, free, and loved unconditionally. You are strong and can do anything, You are blessed and you are a masterpiece!