We spend an inordinate amount of time obtaining education and credentialing to work in a field that is interesting to us. Years and years are spent garnering the experience we need to earn a living. So, why do we feel like we aren’t good enough to do what we have spent hundreds of thousands of hours on learning and honing the skills? Doubting ourselves after years of preparation and study is ridiculous, but we still do it.

Society does a number on us. One minute we feel confident and then one little thing happens, and our confidence vanishes like a piece of beef jerky in front of my Golden Retriever. For whatever reason, we doubt ourselves and that is a choice that places a huge undue burden on us. What in the hell do we get from this? I’ll tell you what we get — Imposter Syndrome.

Here’s why you need to put your middle fingers in the air to Imposter Syndrome.

You’re Meant to Have It

Do you feel compelled to do something? What I’m referring to here is burning desires. Our intuition speaks to us through burning desires. When we feel very strongly about a certain line of work then we are meant to carry out that work. Bottom line is if you want something badly, you’re meant to have it. It’s OK if someone has it, too. That doesn’t mean you can’t.

Comparing Yourself to Others

The only reason you feel like an imposter is because you are comparing yourself to people that you view are better and/or smarter than you. Society has a hierarchy, and our agents of socialization love to decide where we belong on that hierarchy. Screw that hierarchy. It has absolutely nothing to do with our capabilities because all of us have unlimited potential. God, the Universe, the Divine, whatever you want to call it, does not bless some people more than others and there is no such thing as luck. We are what we think we are.

Comparing yourself to others is a self-sabotaging behavior. Plus, you absolutely do not know what that person you’re assuming is better or smarter than you is going through or has gone through. Focus on your strengths and improve your weaknesses by observing those you admire versus comparing yourself to them. Trust me. Those folks you view as better than, they have failed, too. They have been hurt, too. They have Imposter Syndrome, too.

Celebrities are Great Teachers

Halston had a burning desire to design the perfect dress. His burning desire started at an early age, and it never went away. Do you know why? Because he was meant to be a clothing designer.

I have never had any desire to design clothes. I just wear them. But Halston’s burning desire was his, not mine. Writing and helping people are my burning desires, and those have been with me since childhood. I am meant to do this work, and so are millions of others. I kicked Imposter Syndrome by realizing I bring something to the table that’s missing in my field, and that’s a genuine authenticity that comes from my willingness to be vulnerable. That’s how I help people.

Think about Dolly Parton. When she was a small child, she pretended like she was on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. She stood on her front porch, used a broom as a microphone, and she sang to the farm animals. They were her audience at the Opry. What made her do this? I think we all know the answer to that question. Dolly Parton was meant to be Dolly Parton. You are meant to be who you want to be, as well.

Your Burning Desire

If you have an inner calling (aka burning desire) and you have acted on it, you are carrying out your life purpose; therefore, there is no need to ever feel like an imposter. You have a burning desire for a reason. Others may be doing the same work as you are, but I bet you bring a uniqueness to it that fills a void. I also bet you know exactly what that uniqueness is. Keep that in mind when Imposter Syndrome creeps in.

To recap, this is how we kill Imposter Syndrome:

· Remind ourselves that we are meant to do the work we are doing.

· Stop comparing ourselves to others who are doing similar work and start learning from them.

· Listen to our intuition instead of society (aka other human beings).

· Think about celebrities like Halston and Dolly Parton for inspiration.

Lastly, what are we going to do? We’re going to put our middle fingers in the air to Imposter Syndrome.

Are you doing it? I am.

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Thank you for taking the time to read my article. My articles are one way I am carrying out my burning desire, because I write them to help people.