The Imposter Syndrome is alive and well. If anything, it is spreading virulently.
Or, possibly, people are more open to admitting that they have it.
Successful people, very successful people, feel that they accomplished what they did by chance or good timing or pure fluke. That they are not competent or skilled at all. And that someone will recognize this and expose them as ‘a fraud.’
People in the grip of full-blown “Imposter Syndrome” attacks feel insecure, fearful and afraid to take risks or even mild initiatives. Their stomachs knot up, their blood pressure shoots up and they have trouble sleeping.
The solution is simple. Not easy, but simple.
Accept that you are correct. You did not ‘do’ the things that made you successful. You think you did, but that is an illusion. A benevolent universe orchestrated the elaborate drama that led to your achievements.
You are like the FedEx guy. You deliver the package, but it did not come from you.
Letting go of the sense of ‘doership’ is not easy because our society constantly reinforces the notion that ‘You did it’ and ‘You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it’.
But you can jettison that sense.
Constantly meditate on the number of factors that contributed to your success, things that you had nothing to do with.
Someone complimented Warren Buffet on his financial acumen and how it led him to vast wealth. He replied to the effect that he was lucky and a fat lot of good his skills would have been if he had been born in Afghanistan.
When you embrace the idea that, yes, you were lucky, the fear drops away. And then you become more open to the possibility that the universe will continue to guard your back.
Because here is a truth that only a few discover. A truth that no less a genius than Albert Einstein discussed openly. When you look for signs that the Universe is ‘friendly’ you will find them everywhere.
It is far better to live in a ‘friendly’ universe than an ‘indifferent’ or ‘hostile’ one.
Trust me on this one!
Peace!
