More and more articles are appearing in print and online publications about Impostor Syndrome: its causes, its effects, its symptoms and solutions to overcome it.  In my experience, those suppositions don’t fully explain a mental mindset of feeling inadequate and worrying about being ‘found out’.

Simply put, Impostor Syndrome is a case of mistaken identity.   Our culture has taught us that we are the sum total of our heritage, our looks, our education and our achievements.  Then add to that, our shortcomings, our failures, our traumas and our losses.  None of those conditions define are who we are.

Who you are is an intelligent, resilient, creative and resourceful human beings who is intimately connected to the infinite intelligence behind all life.  This intelligence surfaces as wisdom, insight, and intuition, there to guide and support you when you take a break from habitual thinking.  Thoughts like ‘not good enough’, ‘others know more than me’, ‘I don’t measure up’ are simply fabricated ideas that have no basis in reality.   We mistakenly believe we are inadequate, don’t belong, don’t know enough based what we have been given to believe about ourselves.

If you believe you are not good enough, you are just plan wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth.   Stop assessing, comparing and judging and start recognizing the miracle of life that you are.   There is only one of you with your unique, one-of-a-kind combination of intellect, talents and gifts. You might have to search around a bit to discover this for yourself. Just don’t pretend you are someone other than you – then you would be an impostor.