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It feels like my hard work has paid off, but at the same time, I still have the impostor, you know, syndrome. I still feel like I'm going to wake up, and everybody's going to see me for the hack I am.
Viola Davis
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Even with achievements, self-doubt can linger, leading one to feel like a fraud.

Viola Davis expresses a common sentiment experienced by many successful individuals, known as impostor syndrome. Despite external validation and the fruits of hard work, she feels an internal struggle with self-doubt, fearing that others will eventually recognize her perceived inadequacies and shortcomings, highlighting the psychological barriers that can accompany success.

Themes

Impostor SyndromeSelf-DoubtHard WorkSuccessRecognition

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about overcoming challenges, you might say this quote to illustrate the ongoing struggle many face with self-perception.

More from Viola Davis

The more I'm pushed in a position of leadership and I know I have to be the mouthpiece for so many other people who can't speak for themselves, the more confidence I'm gaining.
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What excites me is just taking some time to breathe in life. The mundane is very exciting.
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I don't care if someone is new to acting or experienced in acting: you always learn something from them. It's just like people in life - whether they're young or middle-aged or old, you always learn something from someone.
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I don't see a lot of narratives written where a woman who looks like me gets to be beautiful and sexualized and upwardly mobile, middle-class, funny, quirky. They're very seldom written.
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And that's what people want to see when they go to the theater. I believe at the end of the day, they want to see themselves - parts of their lives they can recognize. And I feel if I can achieve that, it's pretty spectacular.
Viola DavisRead
There's no prerequisites to worthiness. You're born worthy, and I think that's a message a lot of women need to hear.
Viola DavisRead

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