Imposter Syndrome is a struggle almost all of us share. You might call it chronic self-doubt, the fear of being discovered a fraud, or feelings of inadequacy. Even when you’ve already demonstrated that you are more than adequate, you tell yourself you are not.
The question isn’t if you’ll struggle with imposter syndrome, the question is when. Even the people you assume have all the confidence in the world are worried that they aren’t …
- expert enough
- experienced enough
- good enough
They worry that they aren’t worthy of your attention, worthy of the time and energy they will invest, or if they are worthy at all. They may not talk about it, but they do feel it.
I have a conversation about imposter syndrome with 100% of my clients who are facing a transition in life, starting a blog, or sharing their creative work in some way. It always comes up and I understand the pain because I have it too. I know how they feel; how you feel.
I struggle with imposter syndrome when I’m writing, speaking, creating something new or meeting new people.
I immediately think …
- Am I the best person to be doing this? (someone could do it better or has done it better)
- Why would anyone care what I have to say?” (my voice isn’t important enough)
- Will people think I’m a fraud? (they are going to think I don’t know what I’m talking about)
When I notice this line of thinking, I try to simplify things so I don’t get carried away with self-doubt. Instead of trying to prove to myself that I’m qualified, or that people care, or trying to talk myself into moving forward, I ask myself one simple question.
“Do I have something to offer that will resonate with or help other people?”
If we never get to this simple, yet powerful question, our voices are stifled, our hearts remain hidden and our work will never see the light of day. Never asking and answering this question is a disservice to everyone.
- To you, because you do have something to offer.
- To the people you want to serve, because they will never know.
- To beautiful relationships, because your work/heart/offering is pure connection.
I don’t ask myself if I’m the only person for the job, or the best person for the job. I don’t ask myself if I have something to offer everyone. I simply ask myself if I have something to offer.
When the answer is yes, even a whisper of a yes, I know I have to move forward. When I know I have something to offer, I can’t ignore the call. It doesn’t mean it feels comfortable, or that my inner voice is fully onboard, but I will make the thing, have the conversation, or do whatever I need to do to honor my heart, my offering, and the people it may serve.
Do you have something to offer?
Is imposter syndrome holding you back from offering something to your life, family, or community? If you’ve silenced yourself in life, work, art, or anything at all, please ask yourself the simple question. “Do I have something to offer?” If you can’t hear the whisper of a yes, put your hands (one over the other) on your heart, take a deep breath, and ask the question again.
Once you know, you cannot ignore the call.
