avatarShaunta Grimes

Summary

Pink's quote about imposter syndrome resonates with the author, who shares her own experiences with self-doubt and offers advice on overcoming it.

Abstract

The author of this article shares a quote from Pink about feeling like a fraud and experiencing self-doubt, which resonates with her own experiences. She describes a moment of crippling self-doubt and the voice in her head that questions her abilities and authenticity. The author finds solace in Pink's words and offers advice on overcoming imposter syndrome by doing the work anyway until the "click" happens. She also shares a video of Pink's concert and a poem by Emily Dickinson.

Opinions

  • The author finds Pink's quote about imposter syndrome relatable and helpful in dealing with her own self-doubt.
  • The author believes that everyone experiences moments of self-doubt and questioning their abilities.
  • The author advises pushing through self-doubt and continuing to do the work until the "click" happens and confidence returns.
  • The author enjoys Pink's music and shares a video of her concert.
  • The author appreciates Emily Dickinson's poem and shares it as a source of inspiration.
  • The author encourages readers to subscribe to her newsletter for daily doses of inspiration.
  • The author is a writer and teacher who lives in Northwestern PA with her family and pets.

Then it clicks and I’m like, ‘I’m fucking awesome!

Pink on Imposter Syndrome (The Commonplace Book Project)

Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images

You can find all the posts in The Commonplace Book Project here:

“Every album, I’m worried that I’m a dork and a fraud — ‘What if I can’t sing anymore?’ Then I stop thinking an start playing guitar, and I realize that it’s okay to suck, and move forward. Then it clicks and I’m like, ‘I’m fucking awesome!’” — Pink, Rolling Stone

When I saw this quote tonight, it was like a lightning bolt right to my soul. It was just what I needed to hear tonight.

Because this afternoon? I was caught up in this moment of crippling self-doubt. I just kind of came out of nowhere and buckled my knees.

Do you ever get this voice in your head that just wants to know what in the hell you think you’re doing, anyway? Like — what kind of idiot are you, thinking anyone wants to listen to anything you have to say. You’re not a storyteller, you dork. You’re a total fraud.

When that happens to me, it almost anyways ends with: Why don’t you just go be a teacher already.

So, while I’d wish constant inner peace for Pink, it helps to know that sometimes she feels like an imposter, too.

And when I read her quote, it helped me remember . . . oh, yeah. When it clicks, I am like, ‘I’m fucking awesome.’

The best advice is right there in those couple of sentences. Just do it anyway, until the click happens.

And when I really need a reminder, Pink has that handled, too.

I listened to this recording of Pink’s Beautiful Trauma concert while I wrote this. I feel a little sad for the person who recorded it — she was right in front of you, man. Put the iPhone away. But I enjoyed it a lot. I’d like to see Pink in concert for real some day.

Pink’s daughter made her a tinfoil Grammy when Beautiful Trauma didn’t win in 2019. The best part is when she says it’s her 17th. She’s won three non-tinfoil Grammys.

The first I remember being aware of Pink was when she sang Lady Marmalade for Moulin Rouge.

(This post contains affiliate links.)

Looking up the video made me want to watch the movie — which, of course, is about a writer dealing with imposter syndrome.

Here’s one more Pink song. I love this one.

Today’s Poem:

Frequently The Wood Are Pink By Emily Dickinson

Frequently the wood are pink — Frequently are brown. Frequently the hills undress Behind my native town. Oft a head is crested I was wont to see — And as oft a cranny Where it used to be — And the Earth — they tell me — On its Axis turned! Wonderful Rotation! By but twelve performed!

Thanks for reading and clapping (to let me know you enjoyed it!) If you’d like to get these daily doses of inspiration in your inbox, fill out the form below.

Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She’s on Twitter @shauntagrimes and is the author of Viral Nation and Rebel Nation and the upcoming novel The Astonishing Maybe. She is the original Ninja Writer.

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