This is a real thing. Impostor syndrome. Even as I type this I’m questioning my ability, my worthiness to share what I’m thinking.
One major trait of someone living with this is denying their ability and discounting praise from others. Yep! Got it. Psychologists say it could be related to upbringing or trauma. Sounds kind of dark. I think that I have mostly taught myself to believe the negative thoughts.
I question all that I do.
Should I ask this person to collaborate? They don’t want to? What is wrong with me?
Should I share this song? What’s so special about it?
Why would I release a song that’s going to be distributed worldwide?
Your joking, right?
Using social media makes it worse. Of course it does. All of that comparison going on after reading each post.
(So, impostor syndrome is telling me here and now to explain why I’m not going deeper with this issue in this post. But I want to get to the point.)
Remember playing as kids? We could be anyone. We could do anything. No thoughts of lack of ability or unworthiness. Just soaring joy in imagination. I think that I need to recapture that approach and put an adult spin on it somehow.
Here’s what I’m telling myself now…