Imposter Syndrome Never Ends

Imposter Syndrome never ends.

The sense that you don’t actually belong doing what you’re doing – what Amanda Palmer calls “The Fraud Police” – is, at least in my experience, ongoing in even situations where I know without question that I am qualified and capable.

I’ve found only one solution to ongoing Imposter Syndrome: committing before it kicks in, and having the back-out date elapse before you ever feel the acute sensation of being an imposter.

By the time Imposter Syndrome was in full gear this morning, for example, I had committed months ago to teaching the class, had prepared well, and had long ago passed any opportunity to bow out of the responsibility. So I weathered the sensation (I find it helpful to occasionally shout “IMPOSTER SYNDROME” for all to hear) and by the time the class started, I was ready to take on the challenge, and feel good about it.

You can’t stop Imposter Syndrome, so why make decisions with the purpose of avoiding it? Just commit, and then weather the feeling when it arrives.

Imposter Syndrome never ends.