Flipping Imposter Syndrome On Its Head

It’s inevitable – the not-so-elusive “Who am I to be doing this?” question that invades every entrepreneur’s mind at some point (or, more accurately, multiple points) of their journey. The bright side is that, quite possibly, every single person on the face of this Earth has had these doubts – so you’re not alone there. But what do you do when those dreaded thoughts of self-doubt creep in?

FLIP IT ON ITS HEAD

I’m a big fan of reframing your perspective – a skill that I think is critical in following through on your big visions and not letting thoughts of doubt deter your progress. So, how do you reframe imposter syndrome?

Instead of asking yourself, “Who am I to do this?” ask yourself, “Who am I not to?”
I mean, really…

Who are you to decide what the world gets to benefit from?

Who are you to decide what the world gets to see and hear?

Who are you to get to hoard all of your (potentially ground-breaking, life-changing) work all to yourself instead of using it to help and serve others?
Who are you to decide for the rest of the world what is and isn’t worth their time?

When broken down to its most basic foundation, it’s all simple. You can make incredible change – not just in your own life, but in the lives of countless others. And if you choose not to take that next step and double down on your skills, knowledge, and talent – double down on yourself – then you’re also choosing not to help others.

So, remind yourself: What is it that you want? If your mission is to make an impact, that’s where your focus should be. Make the choice to help another person with the knowledge you possess from your own unique experiences. Make the choice to elevate someone’s home & spirit with your art. Make the choice to grant your talents the opportunity to ignite the ripple effect of positive change. Prioritize that choice over your self-judgment. Recognize that the weight of that change you can make in another person’s life far outweighs the belittling and unsubstantiated judgments you’ve made about yourself in your mind.

Recognize that your purpose is more significant than your fears.

I hate to break it to you, but if you forgot, the world doesn’t revolve around you. Yes, there will always be some naysayers and people who, without hesitation or shame, share their unsolicited “advice.” But for the most part, the world isn’t judging you for trying. There’s a world of people out there waiting on you to keep going – waiting on you to show them what’s possible – waiting on you to inject a little more joy, knowledge, freedom, movement, or whatever your expertise is into their lives. Instead of dwelling on whether or not you should be putting anything out into the world, let those people hold the weight and power of deciding what they accept into theirs.

Not everyone will resonate with what you do, and that’s okay. On the flip side, not everyone will reject your work either. So, when those thoughts of imposter syndrome creep in, know it’s not a you thing. It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the impact you want to make.

You can change the world – even if that might mean the world of one other person. Don’t let the darkness of imposter syndrome dim your light. Flip it on its head and know you can do big things and are meant for it.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2024 issue of CHOICES Magazine