In a very complicated world, were work is a constant arena of conflict and uncertainty, were family life and social plans are always changing and sometimes stressful, the modern phenomena of not being sure that we're quite getting it right, that at any time people will see through us and realise, actually, we really don't have a clue, is a regular form of stress.
I think perhaps the first and perhaps most important technique for dealing with this is recognising it. If we notice the feelings when they come up and with luck why, we have a good chance of diminishing the power they carry. We can recognise these thoughts as transient, no different from worrying if you'll get everything you need before the shops close on Christmas Eve or the feeling of relief that comes when Friday arrives and you can close the laptop. It's an emotion that comes and passes like any other - it is not the full blooded truth.
When we understand it as a subjective, often wildly inaccurate, emotional feeling, we can choose instead to think about what we have successfully achieved as an honest counterweight to the failures our mind will throw at us to prove our failures. We have the opportunity to put things in perspective. We can re-assure ourselves that feeling something does not always make it true.
We don't have to fully accept the story this feeling tells us. Instead, we can notice it and let it pass out of our thoughts. In doing this we diminish at least a little of that sense of self doubt and fear that comes with it.
Imposter Syndrome 2 will follow.
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