Unmasking the paradox of impostor syndrome, we delve into the intriguing world of genuine impostors. The irony is that they seldom experience this syndrome. Let's explore why this is the case, and what it reveals about self-perception and authenticity.
Wondering whether you’re a fraud? That probably means you’re not.
An actual impostor is someone who doesn’t doubt their own credibility and just lies until they have access to what they want, then they take it-and leave.
Out yourself and you’ll feel better
A con artist will never do openly admit that they’re conning you.
- So if you want to know, one hundred percent, that you’re not an impostor, do something no con artist would ever do: out yourself.
Brilliant people tend to doubt themselves
Impostor syndrome is a common psychological pattern where people doubt their own knowledge and skills, then live in fear that they’ll eventually be outed as a fraud
- This is particularly common among highly qualified and experienced people
- Highly qualified people work around other highly qualified people and also tend to measure their own self-worth in comparison to others, which can be a recipe for self-doubt
- Actual impostors don’t ask themselves if they’re a fraud
A monkey with a typewriter
When Hannah asked him to write an article about how amazing she is, he doubted himself because he had never done any of these things.
- Hannah’s advice made him think he did not know how to write, despite having been writing professionally since 2007
- Pruning plants and writing are skills he has because he has done them a lot
