This morning I woke up with imposter syndrome. I’m in a creative period, learning new skills. Sometimes, the new skills don’t settle into a cohesive understanding quickly. Confusion is part of the process of learning, right?
I KNOW THIS and yet…in walks imposter syndrome, fear and anxiety.
Has that ever happened to you?
As someone who is wildly enthusiastic about seeking and learning, I have learned about this and played with it a lot over the years. Here’s what I know…
It is best not to wish it away. Instead meet it, thank it and take action.
Wishing it away is a waste of energy. Fear is a biological reaction to change. You can’t fight biology.
Imposter syndrome may evolve over time, it may grow quieter, but don’t expect fear to ever go away all together. Every time you seek growth or transition toward something new, it will be there.
When it pops up, it’s certainly worth noticing. You might even decide to give it your ear for a minute. But don’t forget to call it for what it is – a part of you that thinks staying stuck or small is safest and best.
You might even thank it. Yes! Thank it for wanting to keep you safe, but tell it you’ve got other plans;-)
Imposter syndrome is something that is practically innate. Anytime we try to transition or shift things it is inevitable that fears spring up. Say hi and move on.
What are your other options?
MOVE YOUR BODY IN A NEW WAY. CHANGE YOUR BREATHE.
This morning my fear energy wanted to move. I was anxious and moving (fleeing action) felt good. I went with it. I lifted weights and walked. Moving helps your body complete a chemical cycle created by the fear. It gets you to a new state in your nervous system when the chemical cycle is completed.
Move your breath.
Fritz Perls the psychiatrist and founder of Gestalt therapy famously said:
“Fear is excitement without breath.”
What he was pointing out was that the same mechanisms and neurobiological drivers that produce excitement also produce fear. You can easily transform fear into excitement by changing your breath and breathing more fully. Want to stay scared? Hold your breath. Freeze. Want to feel excited? Breath more fully.
You could work with your breath directly – if you know how. Or you can move. The exercise and movement helped me change my breathe.
Either way, knowing what’s going on with you is step one. If you want to change – do not to stop there. Awareness is not action.
To make change – you need to take an action – that is where you build new capacity every time. Make a choice and try something. Experiment with your actions. Notice how you feel.
I am going to be posting more videos, reels and talks on social media. Find me there. Links below.
