Submitting the Application for a Role That Terrifies My Internal Critic

Dear Delyara, I spent two hours tonight filling out the application form for a senior management position at a completely different firm—a role that carries a level of responsibility that my imposter syndrome tells me I am entirely unsuited for. My hand was hovering over the trackpad for a full five minutes, the voice in my head screaming that I was going to humiliate myself, that they would laugh at my CV, and that I should just stay in my safe, quiet cubicle. I took a deep, deliberate breath and clicked Submit. The screen instantly updated to say Application Received. Even if I don't get an interview, the true victory is that I have officially refused to let my own fear be the gatekeeper of my career. I am throwing my hat into the ring, and that act alone makes me feel completely alive.