March 30, 2024

You've probably heard of the term before, maybe never given any thought about it, you may even have it and don't know the word exists.

Imposter Syndrome - A psychological phenomenon that describes the thought process of feeling like you're not good enough or don't deserve success, even though you have made accomplishments. 

If you have ever steered away from doing anything in life, you have it. Most people underestimate their potential, and just blindly accept what society has presented them from birth. They just accept that their life is a set-out trail that society gives them, and anything off that trail seems like it's out of reach because they feel that they aren't good enough to accomplish anything greater than the initial trail. 

This way of thinking will decapitate dreams quicker than a maw-maw killing horse flies. This state of constant judgment by one-self keeps us in a state of inaction, preventing anything worthwhile from happening in our lives because we "just aren't good enough yet."

"Ill start when...."

"I can't because...."

"I'm not ready yet.."

Iv heard, and have said all these and more before I realized something.

You will never be ready.

Ready comes after ready is not.

In life, I believe that you truly are never ready for anything, kids, travel, starting a business, marriage, etc.. The only way to become ready or be where you want to be is to just do. Everything else falls into place if all you do is do.

Starting something is going to be challenging, it's going to take time, it's going to suck. You are going to suck at anything when you first start, it doesn't matter. Keep going. Your future self will thank you. 

Some perspective helped me to be able to beat imposter syndrome:

1. No one cares about you as much as you think. Everyone is focused on themselves. So don't worry about what others will think if you're trying to do something for yourself. If you do get the occasional hater, it means you are doing something right. 

2. "How will I know I'm ready?? It's a leap of faith Miles, a leap of faith". Spiderman Into the Spider-Verse. I remember watching this and thinking "So true". Just jump in believing that you can achieve whatever you are trying to accomplish. The first step in accomplishing anything great is believing that you can.  

3. Look at all your previous accomplishments, getting a good grade on a test, finishing some books, or something as simple as making food. Use them as fuel to light the next fiery goal. Understand that you can accomplish anything that you put your mind to, you just need a little persistence.

Once you realize it's easier to just take action rather than overthinking every possible outcome and getting stuck in a cycle of feeling inadequate because you don't have solutions for every scenario, things begin to fall into place.

I have lived with overthinking and the imposter syndrome for so long, it wasn't until recently that I came to the conclusion that if you don't create the life you want, you will be given a life society wants.

So do anything you take an interest in, and create the aspired. 

Thanks, Cameron.