Let’s face it: the reason I have impostor syndrome is because I believe I have to SEEM some way in order to be okay, some way that is not the way I see myself right now.
Which means I’m actually faking it, or at least believing I need to. And I can stop.
Wherever I’m being true to myself, I have no impostor syndrome.
If I have impostor syndrome, it’s because I’m trying to convince people of things that I don’t believe are true (they may actually be true, but I’M not convinced).
Now, why would I do that?
Am I…
Afraid of rejection?
Afraid I won’t be enough?
Afraid of missing opportunities?
Afraid of straining relationships?
Afraid of losing my job?
Afraid of losing privileges?
Afraid of being seen as imperfect?
Afraid of feeling like a loser?
Afraid I won’t have access to what I need if I’m just being myself?
Afraid, afraid, afraid.
Fear is what gives me the impulse to fake it. Without fear there is no reason to believe I would ever need to exceed my true nature. (though I may fake it for fun). The perceived need for faking is what causes impostor syndrome.
So when impostor syndrome crops up, I ask myself, “What am I afraid of?”
And since all fear is confusion, I am essentially asking myself, “What am I confused about?”
That I will be rejected?
That I will miss opportunities?
That it’s better for me to keep a job than to be at home with myself?
That I won’t have access to love or belonging or opportunities that are right for me if I just show up as I am?
That I am unacceptable if I am imperfect?
I identify the confusion and clear it up.
And when I do, I free myself to live in my true nature.
When I’m living in my true nature, it is impossible for me to feel like an impostor.