Deesha Dyer: People in Power Are 'Happy' When We Have Imposter Syndrome
Chiiiile, we need to UNPACK this toxic relationship.
Imposter Syndrome. Chile, we can’t even type those two words without it triggering a stress headache. 😩
For Episode 9 of IT’S GOOD OVER HERE, Head Honey Felicia Pride recently chatted with Deesha Dyer, who boasts an incredible journey from community college student to White House Social Secretary under the Obama administration.
When it comes to imposter syndrome, Deesha didn’t even familiarize herself with the term until her 30s, but Chiiiiile, once she did?!
“Even when I learned about what it was, I thought that we all have a bottom line of doubt,” she recalls. “I was like, ‘Don’t we all feel that way?’ I made it normal and I also made it my fault.”
Whether it was “one more degree,” “one more promotion,” or “affirmations and meditations,” Deesha had an epiphany—this type of narrative is all a scam!
“It’s all working as designed,” she continues. “Imposter syndrome is a system of oppression, and micro-aggression, and biases that chip away at who we are.”
So, she made an intentional decision to flip it on its head—especially as she realized this was implanted in her since she was a little Black girl. Sound familiar, Honeys?!
“The people in power are very happy with us feeling inferior,” she muses. “They are very happy wasting our time not feeling confident or feeling good. Because then we will never access the power that we have within ourselves.”
Deesha better speak on THAT!
Honey, we recommend you get comfy and digest more quotable goodies like these in the latest episode!
Deesha Dyer is an award-winning strategist, speaker, author, and champion for social impact. Her journey exemplifies authenticity and determination. She is the founder and CEO of Hook & Fasten, a social impact firm, and author of “Undiplomatic: How My Attitude Created the Best Kind of Trouble.”
TALKBACK
Honeys—do you experience imposter syndrome or are you more like, “I don’t know her?” What has been your journey tackling imposter syndrome? Let’s chat about it! Also, check out the full episode and come back to the comments to dive deeper!
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Imposter syndrome is real but I read. Around it because I recognize the importance of reading between the lines and realize that’s mind numbing