|
When I started working as a freelance writer in my early 20s, I was doing a decent job of getting my work published, but the more I got to know other seasoned writers, the more I felt like I was trespassing on their territory. I was a young woman with no university education, the daughter of immigrants for whom English was their second or third language. I was sure I was at a disadvantage and that one day someone would expose me as a fraud and say, "Hey! What are YOU doing here? You're not a real writer. Get out!"
That never happened.
Sure, editors sent back my articles with suggestions for revisions and not all my pitches got accepted, but that happens to every writer. Every single last one of them. Even the ones who, like me now, have been writing for decades. That's just how it goes. You work hard, keep learning, keep trying, keep failing, keep starting over, and then, one day, you look back and think, "Hey! I'm not where I used to be. I kind of like it here."
Back then, I hadn't even heard of the term "impostor syndrome," but I definitely had it. Today, as I am exploring the world of art and the possibility of making a career out of my illustration work, I've got it again. Only this time, I'm not fighting it. I do understand that it's not wise to obsessively compare myself to other artists, or to compare my work to theirs, but because I've been through this before, I also know that feeling like an impostor (even when my brain assures me that I'm not) can keep me from becoming arrogant and overly confident about my skills and talents. It reminds me that success is the result of being consistent and persistent and that self-doubt and discomfort are part of the process.
Do you struggle with impostor syndrome? When you feel out of your depth, don't jump ship! Remember that virtually all highly successful people have gone through this. Australian entrepreneur Mike Cannon-Brookes says, "The successful people I know don’t question themselves. They question their knowledge and they’re not afraid to ask for advice.”
I love that: Question your ideas, your work, or your process so that you can continue to improve, but don't question yourself. If you're in a job, relationship, church, or some other situation you think you don't deserve to be in or aren't good enough for, do this: Praise God for that blessing, stay committed, and work hard to make the most of the opportunity given to you.
Have a wonderful Monday!
|
