Imposter Syndrome

Conversations about “Imposter syndrome” came up a few times last week, so I took it as a sign to write about it. 

For those who don’t know, Imposter Syndrome is when people don’t feel “good enough” or skilled enough for the positions they’re in or for the accolades they’ve received. In fact, it is personal success that triggers Imposter Syndrome and about 70% of adults will experience it at some point in their lives.

But I want to reframe this, starting with the idea of manifestation. 

Posts and videos about manifesting are EVERYWHERE (and I’ll talk about this more in a future letter) but a consistent piece of advice people give is that you have to start embodying the life you want to lead. 

For example, if you want to be more physically fit, then you have to lead your life in the way a physically fit person would. Or if you want to be a musician, you need to wake up and move through your day the way a musician would, picking up your instrument and playing “just because.” 

So, how does this relate to Imposter Syndrome? 

You have the job you have, which means someone deemed you capable of doing it. Someone saw something in you that you may not be able to see in yourself. Or if you received some kind of recognition, it was because you deserved it even if you didn’t think you did. 

When I started out as a UX Writer, I had to Google “What do UX Writers do?” on my first day. I didn’t have a clue. But the manager who hired me for the job saw a transferable set of skills in me that I wasn’t yet able to see. I wanted to be great at my job, so every day I showed up and tried my hardest. I assumed the UX writing responsibilities and didn’t let myself say, “I don’t know what I’m doing. I shouldn’t be doing this.” 

So if you’re feeling like you are fooling everyone and can’t do something, think about the practice of manifesting. Go through your day as though you already are the best at whatever it is you are struggling with. And understand that even the people who are the experts had to learn lessons along the way. 

Still not convinced? Let me tell you a little secret…

EVERYONE is pretending at first. Everyone. 

No one knows how to DO something until they HAVE to do something. Take parents for example. Parents can read tons of Parenting books. And do you know what happens once they are parents? Something happens that makes them say, “This wasn’t covered in the book.” 

Every surgeon has a “first day.” What if you’re the patient on that surgeon’s first day? Do you want a surgeon who thinks, “What am I DOING here?!” or the surgeon who in their “oh shit” moment thinks, “Shut up, Brain. I’ve got this.” 

YOU. HAVE. GOT. THIS. 

You are NOT an imposter. Find a mirror, or flip your phone camera to see yourself and say, “I’ve got this. I am not an imposter. I know EXACTLY what to do and I deserve this.” Say it with conviction. BELIEVE it (even if you don’t right now). 

You are not an imposter. You are EXACTLY where you are meant to be right now. And if you weren’t, you wouldn’t be there. 

So this week, a way to be 1% Better is to step into the person, life, etc. that you are meant to be/have. That’s it. Believe in yourself, in where you are at this moment in time, and SHINE. 

With gratitude,

Natalie