Nathan Lowell (he/him) 📎

What does imposter syndrome mean to you and do you think you have it?

Imposter Syndrome: An uneasy sense that who you present yourself as lies at odds with who you think you are.

It's most prevalent when you feel that your inner reality isn't up to your outer projection. That you are unworthy of some higher status.

"I'm not really that good. I'm just pretending that I know what I'm doing."

I thought I had it in the beginning before I realized that self-doubt is critical to improvement. Without that sense of "I could do better," I have no incentive to grow.

I realized that every other person engaged in their art or craft must feel the same way to some degree unless they lacked any kind of self awareness. Any sense of growth or improvement.

My self-doubt doesn't make me an imposter. It makes me a member of the clan I wish to claim membership in.

#ScribesAndMakers

Apr 2 at 11:59amWeb
Show threadSamantha Bryant (She/Her)1d ago
@nlowell Love this. A certain amount of self-doubt is a good sign, IMO. Shows you're still open to grow and learn. What's the quote? Charles Bukowski I think (who did have a way with words if not with other humans): “The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”
Show threadadaddinsane (Steve Turnbull)1d ago

@samanthabwriter @nlowell

It's a rare situation with Nathan but I don't agree.

I don't think self-doubt is a necessity to knowing you can improve. IMO self-doubt is only ever bad (and usually internalising someone else's negativity).

Knowing you can improve only requires awareness of what you do compared to what you want to do. (And what you want to do can be changed.)

Show threadNathan Lowell (he/him) 📎1d ago

@adaddinsane @samanthabwriter

That's a really good point and maybe a fairer way to look at it.

I may be internalizing that "where I am vs where I want to be" dichotomy as self-doubt rather than aspirational self-awareness.

ETA:
Although I don't see all self-doubt as bad. As much as I want to believe that I can reach some goal, there's always the chance that I can't or won't.

But I'm gonna try anyway. ;D