Here’s what I know about impostor syndrome.

It doesn’t exist.

But: I get the confusion.

And I also know quite well what this non-existing phenomenon feels like.

Here’s how I see it.

Sometimes I coach for a couple of weeks and it’s nothing but amazing.

Everything.

I’m totally slamming all the balls out of the park, it feels good and powerful and natural and effortless, and clients get crazy and yummy results in their lives.

We’re having the best time together, the best!

So far so good.

And then somewhere along the line, the mind comes in (like it always does).

‘Uh, okay, well, you’ve had your lucky break. Now let’s get serious!’

And all at once, the fun is gone.

I mean: what was I thinking?!

What’s my coaching about, for real?

What do I actually have to offer: I couldn’t pitch it in a minute so it must be rubbish!

I don’t even know what I’m doing when I’m doing it (which felt really good and playful when I was lost in it, but now starts to look like a flaw or a weakness)!

Other people, PROFESSIONALS, have diplomas and certificates and black belts and frameworks and PhDs!

Me?

Some practical experience, mostly.

A bunch of spiritual insights.

A shelf full of books.

And the audacity to jump in.

Which, all of a sudden, doesn’t feel nearly good and qualified enough for what I do.

Like there’s no serious ground for my success.

Sounds familiar?

What we call ‘impostor syndrome’ is what happens when you just flow around for a while, efficiently, creatively, and effectively, and the mind decides to ruin the party.

There’s literally no problem and you’re doing what you’re really, REALLY good at, but there’s no real effort and now it all just seems a bit simple.

Too simple, even.

And that’s where the misunderstanding arises.

It’s nothing but overthinking.

What we call ‘impostor syndrome’ simply means that you don’t recognize how natural something comes to you and how much it’s a part of you.

We don’t see that the things that are easy for us and perfectly straightforward and effortless, can be pretty fucking special for everybody else.

We get hired and paid for that amazing shit, and people love and admire us for it, but because it’s so normal for us, we can struggle to see the true value.

At those moments when we start to doubt what we’re doing, it seems like everything that’s worth something in the world has to be difficult, complex, and institutionalized.

And not anything like the sense of ease we have around it.

‘Impostor syndrome’ is what happens when we don’t recognize our authentic flow, when we fail to see our inherent talent and the joy we have while doing it, and simply don’t acknowledge that we’re really good at doing specific stuff.

When you’re REALLY amazing at something, it becomes playful.

And sometimes it can feel like that doesn’t belong in the workplace, where everything is often very serious and deliberate.

Impostor syndrome is a misunderstanding.

A pretty cool one, actually.

It’s about underestimating the pure natural quality of what’s going on because it’s not a big deal for you.

But it’s nothing but a bunch of doubts that arise when you don’t need them.

It’s like being in the middle of intense and spontaneous and sweaty sex, and then stopping that delicious lovemaking to read a book about the biological processes that are involved and the techniques of the ancient Greeks.

Who cares?

When stuff is flowing, let it flow.

It means you own it.

So when it comes easy to you: congratulations!

Impostor syndrome means you’re exceptionally great at something, at the level where it can just happen through you, and you simply didn’t realize that.

How awesome!

—

(Photo by @dariusbashar, for Unsplash)