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The first time I experienced the pleasures of imposter syndrome was when I started sharing my views on the internet like I’m doing right now. My guess is that virtually anyone who shares their view, message, or opinion with an audience experiences it. Being an expert on a topic is no safeguard as even authorities on subjects ask themselves how to overcome imposter syndrome.
The last time the feeling of being an imposter was triggered, was when I was reading Jed McKenna’s books, which, for anyone who doesn’t know them, are highly disconcerting. It made me acutely aware of the fake and the false which above all is myself.
Yet the joke, I realized, is that everything is fake and false if you dig down deep enough. Fakeness and falseness are not uncommon or bad, but the fuel that keeps our world going. But before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s first take a closer look at what imposter syndrome is.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome was first studied by psychologist Pauline Rose Clance in 1978. Another name for it is impostor phenomenon, which is somewhat more accurate because it’s not really a disease.
It’s a feeling telling you that you don’t deserve the attention and success you receive. You doubt your skills, expertise, and accomplishments, and fear being exposed as a fraud. You might even think that others could do better than you. Another aspect is that you might think you’re the only one feeling like a swindler.
This is such a universal experience that the word “syndrome” is hardly appropriate. Even extraordinarily accomplished individuals such as Albert Einstein and Maya Angelo have felt like imposters. So, it seems that no amount of expertise and success makes you immune to it.
Alright then, enough of the sterile representation of facts. Let’s look deeper than the common narrative. Imposter syndrome seems way too common to be explained away as a mental kink you have to banish.
The truth is that we are all imposters. That’s why it’s so common. Every persona we’re trying to express is an imposter of who or what we really are, and yet, comically, we can’t avoid it.
Being human means being an imposter.
We come here to play roles and playing roles is the only way to interact with the world. Without a role no interaction.
The undifferentiated whatever-it-is-you-are is not a human. It is all that and there is. So without pretending to be many humans on a spinning rock it couldn’t experience the dualistic pull and push of pain and pleasure.
The Gift of Imposter Syndrome
There is a hidden gift in imposter syndrome. It makes you aware of the fact that you’re playing make-believe. And no matter what each of us is doing in this world, it’s always make-believe.
Make-believe is the key to this whole crazy world functioning the way it does. We need to suspend our disbelief to take this all as seriously as we do. We need to pretend that nations, governments, the economy, and problems are real, otherwise, no one would seriously play.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to suggest leaving everything behind to live the life of a mountain hermit (although who am I to keep you from doing it). The goal here is to recognize that we’re making the contents of this world up as we go. We don’t need to get rid of the collective drama and I doubt we could even if we tried.
This here is about you.
This is about releasing the grip on everything (first and foremost, the idea about who you are) and recognizing that everything will keep going on, without you having to get all serious about everything and trying to control every little thing.
But here is where imposter syndrome comes in.
It acts as a backdoor to inquire about what and where you really are. Imposter syndrome indicates that you’re taking the identity you’ve created way too seriously. And on top of that, you might be trying to control how other people see you, which, of course, you can’t control.
It’s a reminder to stop for a second and ask yourself what is really going on. Because when you do, you’ll see that the only way to be in control is to release the illusion of having control.
When you release control, you’re claiming your birthright, which is recognizing yourself as an integrated aspect of the flow of life. You allow yourself to swim with, instead of against it.
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Now let’s get to the juicy part you’ve been waiting for. How do you overcome imposter syndrome? You might already be expecting this, but I’m saying it anyway. This is not a 3-steps-to-overcome-imposter-syndrome type of thing.
Because the truth is that no amount of talking about it or improving your skills, experience, and yourself will make this feeling go away. In fact, this is not about overcoming imposter syndrome in the traditional sense at all.
The only way to “overcome” imposter syndrome is to come to terms with the fact that you, like everyone else, are an imposter and that there’s nothing wrong or bad about it.
We spend all of our lives bullshitting. And although some of us try to combat this by getting fancy titles, it doesn’t change the fact that we’re bullshitters. This is not supposed to come across as judgmental because, again, there’s nothing wrong with it.
So, in the end, it’s not about whether you bullshit good or bad bullshit, but about choosing bullshit you like and making it your bullshit.
We’re playing make-believe, but that’s what makes it fun, right?
On a more practical note, imposter syndrome is an invitation to inquire deeply into your true nature. Instead of running from the feeling of being an unintentional swindler, we plunge head first into it.
Seriously question every identity you believe yourself to be. Ask yourself if you’re attached to the personality you assume yourself to be and fear losing it. Pick your so-called ‘me’ apart. Ask yourself what this imposter syndrome feeling is trying to protect.
Spoiler alert: It protects nothing.
We usually fear nothingness—being no one and no thing. But what if imposter syndrome is nothing but a finger pointing at exactly that, giving us a hint?
There is no true self or ‘I’ somewhere inside this personality structure. Sure, there are all the thoughts, emotions, and feelings, but can you find and point at ‘you’ in between all this mental content? What is the constant in all this?
You can easily see this for yourself if you look with honesty and focus. Every time you identify with something, ask yourself if this is who you are. If you say yes, then go one step deeper and ask yourself what exactly makes you believe this is you.
Practice this for long enough, and eventually, it’ll be self-evident that there is no ‘I’ to find.
Seeing this is not some extraordinary experience. It’s more a simple shift in perception. The result won’t be a new improved personality, but relaxation. A cessation of all the clinging and grasping and trying to be someone.
When you no longer cling to an identity, then you have overcome imposter syndrome.
Luka
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