Do You Feel Like an Impostor When You Write?

What really gets in my way as a writer…

Sometimes what holds me back is a unique kind of fear called “Impostor Syndrome.”

I write a lot about the craft of writing and I often hear people say:

“I am afraid I can’t write,” or “I am too old to learn.” 

“I am afraid that what I write is all drek and people will laugh.” 

“If I write what I am really thinking, they will lock me up.”

Do any of these sound familiar? 

What Is Impostor Syndrome?

Impostor syndrome is best described as the fear of being considered a fraud or doubting your accomplishments.

Even if you have reached a level of success in your chosen field you may be full of anxiety and crippling thoughts of being considered a fraud.

According to the Journal of Behavioral Science, it is estimated that 70% of people in the U.S. experience impostor syndrome. 

Throughout my life, I was seen and described by others as competent because I got good grades in school and did well in the workplace.

They called me courageous because I raised two boys as a single mom with few resources on a small farm at the end of a dead-end road in a small town.

I was seen as strong because I wouldn’t concede to the effects of having MS. 

What people didn’t see or hear were the voices in my head that told me I was a fraud, an impostor, and a dreamer.

I assumed I must also be a competent, courageous, strong impostor and that is how I got away with it.

But I’ve learned differently. I’ve learned that impostor syndrome is not ME, but that it will tag along for a ride wherever I go if I let it.

Do You Have Impostor Syndrome?

 So, how do you know if you suffer from impostor syndrome? One way to know if you are dealing with it is to take a free online test.

Simply answer questions you can find through a quick online search, or try the free test at Psycom.net. 

  Five Signs You Might be Experiencing Impostor Syndrome

Here are five common signs that you are living with impostor syndrome.

1. You cannot assess your skills and abilities realistically because you are giving yourself unrealistic goals to accomplish.
2. You connect your success to the outcome, giving no thought to the amount of work you put forth.
3. You put down your own efforts and accomplishments by shrugging them off as if they were “not that good”.
4. You live in constant fear of failing to meet your own expectations, but fail to acknowledge the goals you’ve reached.
5. You engage in activities that self-sabotage potential success by choosing to deliberately procrastinate.

 Many people with impostor syndrome look for ways to protect their ego and self-esteem when faced with tough situations.

This was my modus operandi for many years.

My ‘drug of choice’ has been education. I can take a course, do well, enjoy the dopamine hit, and keep my self-esteem intact.

But there is a negative side. I created a barrier to academic success by switching areas of concentration frequently— from biology to music to business to theology to philosophy and creative writing.

And the list goes on. I did finally achieve a couple of degrees—thirty-five years after I began!

You can remove impostor syndrome by first recognizing it in your life and seeing how it is affecting you.

Progressively work towards breaking those limiting beliefs by thinking of the quality of work you are performing versus the quantity.

• If someone pays you a compliment, remind yourself that it is a fact and that you deserve it. 

• Begin to recognize your own successes and take time to celebrate the wins in your life. Eventually, your inner voice will support your new positive thoughts so you can overcome the feelings of impostor syndrome.

Success Is Not Luck, It’s You!

 Do you have feelings or worries that your co-workers or friends will think you’re a fraud?

Do you often feel like you don’t belong?   Remember, you are in the company of 70% of the population.

Impostor syndrome can cause you to feel that you only accomplished your goals due to luck. Maybe you think you aren’t as good as others think you are and you worry that you’ll be found out.

 So what can you do about impostor syndrome?

  Here are some suggestions on how you can put your inner impostor in its place.

1. Change your mindset to accept your shortcomings instead of seeking a perfect outcome with every project or goal.
2. Embrace your imperfections and learn to accept yourself the way you are. Remind yourself that you did your best.
3. Keep a list of realistic goals. If you have a list of goals already then look through them with honesty.
4. Believe the effort you’ve put forth, regardless of the outcome. You may have worked hard towards a goal just to fall short of the desired outcome. This is an opportunity to accept the outcome and still be proud of the work you put into it.
5. Create a focused goal instead of trying to divide your attention energy between unrelated topics. Be okay with having someone else work on a particular area of a task so you are free to focus on what you enjoy.

 Are you in the 70% who struggle with impostor syndrome? If you have had success moving past it (or not!), write to me at ardis@ardismayo.com or leave a comment below and let’s have a conversation.

  I am Ardis Mayo, writer, photographer, and champion of living a full life regardless of the challenges…and that includes impostor syndrome.

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