Why the Internal Barrier of “I Don’t Belong” Is Just a Bad Beat in Your Rhythm

Rose Odette
16 hours ago
3 min read

Introduction

When I slipped on my new tap shoes this week, ( yes and they felt great! ) I felt that familiar mix of thrill and self-doubt. That whisper I’ve heard in boardrooms, on stages, even in my own mind: “You don’t belong here.”

That voice is sneaky. It doesn’t shout — it taps quietly, off-beat, convincing you that your rhythm doesn’t match the music. But here’s the truth: your rhythm isn’t wrong. It’s original.

The Breakthrough Woman: Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland was born in Kansas City and raised in San Pedro, California — one of six children, growing up in a family that faced real instability. At 13, she discovered ballet at a Boys & Girls Club, years after most professional dancers had already been training.

She practiced in borrowed spaces, using a folding chair as a barre. She faced every kind of “you can’t” imaginable — too late, too short, too muscular, too Black. But she refused to buy into that script.

Misty rewrote the choreography of what a ballerina could look like. In 2015, she became the first African-American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, and today she’s an author, activist, and inspiration — proving that barriers are just steps in disguise.

The Shared Rhythm Between Misty and Me

I’m not a ballerina — I’m a tap dancer. Tap is about confidence in motion, about owning the noise your feet make. It’s rhythm turned rebellion.

Like Misty, I’ve had to fight that inner critic that says I’m too much — too bold, too female, too early, too different. But I’ve learned that business, leadership, and artistry all share the same rule: if you stop moving, you lose the rhythm.

When I dance, I remember: it’s not about being perfect — it’s about staying in time with your truth. Tap dancing reminds me that the missteps still make music — it’s all part of the performance.

The Core Insight - to fight the Internal Barrier

That voice that whispers “You don’t belong” isn’t truth — it’s interference. It’s fear pretending to be rhythm. You can’t silence it by thinking harder — you silence it by moving louder.

In dance and in life, the antidote is momentum. Every step forward, every tap, every risk — it changes the beat. Eventually, courage becomes your new tempo.

Five Ideals to Step Into

Belonging is a rhythm you create, not a room you enter.
Perfection is paralysis — progress is jazz.
Identity is choreography — make it original.
Your scars are syncopation — they give your story texture.
When doubt taps loud, stomp louder.

Five Actions for This Week

Name your internal barrier. Write it down, then rewrite it as a strength.
Move daily. Dance, walk, stretch — motion dissolves fear.
Say yes before you feel ready. Confidence follows movement.
Share your story. Like Misty, your authenticity sets others free.
Celebrate your rhythm. Every misstep is still part of your masterpiece.

Conclusion

So here’s my challenge to you — put on your metaphorical (or literal) tap shoes. The next time that whisper creeps in — “You don’t belong” — let your steps answer back.

If Misty could rise from a motel room to center stage at the American Ballet Theatre, and if I can trade the boardroom for the dance floor to remember who I am, then you can find your rhythm too.

Your beat isn’t broken. It’s just waiting for you to start dancing again.