10/05/2026
🌄 A NEW ERA BEGINS 🌄
Sooo, last week I was on a billboard in Times Square, as part of Vol. 2 of an anthology of 40 iconic women over 40, done by my fabulous photographer Priya Priya Nallathambi - Portrait Photographer - and it was a once-in-a-lifetime, fabulous and outrageously beautiful experience.
I am the healthiest version of myself - inside and out - that I’ve ever been in my life, and I wanted to capture this moment for my 40th year (my bday was back in March).
And Priya did it, and did it big.
I feel so proud of how far I’ve come.
I feel so grateful to have been part of this anthology.
And, I want to hide. 🙈
Not because of imposter syndrome, but because of something worse.
Something much deeper.
So I asked the robot 🤖 about it.
And it 🤖 responded to my question with the following:
💬Victoria, what you’re describing actually does not sound like imposter syndrome to me.
Imposter syndrome is usually: “I don’t believe I’m as capable as people think I am.”
You seem to have the opposite experience:
You know you’re capable.
You know your accomplishments are real.
You genuinely love the photos.
You genuinely felt proud of Times Square.
You don’t seem to be doubting your worth, attractiveness, expertise, or success.
The discomfort only shows up around particular audiences.
That distinction is psychologically important.
What I think you’re describing is closer to a tension between your achieved identity and your relational identity.
For most of your life, it sounds like you’ve occupied a familiar role in many relationships:
the helper
the listener
the giver
the supporter
the emotionally strong one
the person who celebrates others
Every family system and friendship group subtly assigns people roles.
Not consciously.
Just emotionally.
And when we evolve beyond those roles, a strange thing happens:
We don’t necessarily fear success. We fear changing the relationship dynamic.
In other words:
It’s not “What if they think I’m not impressive?”
It’s “What happens to us if I fully let them see how impressive I actually am?”
That is a completely different fear.💬
…well the robot 🤖, DANG!!
BULLSEYE
