“Black Girl, You Don’t Have to Hustle for Your Worth: Breaking Free from Imposter Syndrome & Anxiety”

Savannah stood in the bathroom stall at work, breathing deeply. Another meeting. Another moment of shrinking herself so she wouldn’t be “too much.” Her edges were laid, smile practiced, resume stacked- yet her hands trembled. What if they realized she wasn’t smart? What if today was the day she slipped up? Behind the fly blazer and go-getter persona, her anxiety was screaming. “You’re not good enough. They’re going to find out.”

That voice isn’t new. It’s inherited. It’s collective.

But it’s also a lie.

Ancestral Grind: When Our Excellence Is Rooted in Survival

Let’s be real- Black women have been out here turning water into wine for generations. Our mothers, aunties, and grandmamas taught us to show up no matter what. To get the degree, hold down the job, keep your head high—even if it hurts. But what happens when the grind becomes our identity? When anxiety disguises itself as ambition, and we’re so used to performing that we forget who we really are?

This isn’t just imposter syndrome. This is the emotional residue of systems that told us we had to hustle for our humanity.

Imposter Syndrome is not Just Personal—It’s Political

Black women are often told:

 “Be grateful to be in the room.”

 “Don’t come off as angry or ungrateful.”

 “Prove you belong.”

So we overcompensate. We silence ourselves. We stay booked, busy, and lowkey broken. Imposter syndrome is a trauma response. It says: you can’t rest until you’ve earned your place here. But sis, you were born worthy. You don’t have to earn a thing.

Soul-Care Over Grind Culture: 4 Liberating Shifts

1. Honor Your Feelings

Anxiety doesn’t make you weak. It’s your body asking for a pause. Slow down and listen.

2. Say the Thing Out Loud

Name the lie: “I feel like I’m faking it.” Then follow it with the truth: “But I’ve worked for this. I deserve this.”

3. Unplug from Hustle Praise

Just because you’re always busy doesn’t mean you’re always well. Choose stillness. Choose softness.

4. Build Your Freedom Circle

Healing happens in community. Find your people—the ones who see you, check you, and remind you of your brilliance.

Call to Action: Reclaim Your Birthright

Black woman, you are not here to perform. You are here to be. You carry legacy in your bones and light in your spirit. Anxiety and imposter syndrome may visit—but they don’t get to live rent-free in your mind.

You’re not an imposter- you’re a mirror of all the women who came before you and dreamt of this moment.

Choose healing. Choose joy. Choose you.

Therapy, journaling, sisterhood- whatever your healing looks like, start where you are.