ISSUE #8 - IMPOSTOR! IMPOSTOR! - AVOIDING THE SYNDROME OF SUCKAGE

For many a creative, Impostor Syndrome, the soul-sucking diminisher of drives and more, is unfortunately no stranger. Too many are aware of this oft harbinger of creative blocks and confidence crashes.

Especially under the guise of anonymity that guides so much of our current social sphere today, in a very much post “if-you-don’t-have-anything-nice-to-say-don’t-say-anything-at-all” era, where tearing things down and being antagonistic towards what you don’t like is the modus operandi for far too many.

Feeling like you are a talentless hack who should never have ventured into the creative waters you inhabit is an accessible bit of baggage one can easily strap on and complicate their journey with. But haters gonna hate. That’s very rarely about you or your work.

So in the immortal words of Margaret Atwood, as echoed and slightly altered by Ke$ha on “Rainbow”, “don’t let the bastards get you down.” Don’t listen to that little clown. I went for the rhyme there, but I’ll get to the clown bit in a moment.

The point is, Impostor Syndrome is a sinister commonplace instigator among the players in our various artistic arenas, and is not something to be catered or caved to, but instead to be combatted at every front it engages with you on.

And here are some ways that you can fight back against this incessant liar, sapping your creative will!

KNOW THY ENEMY

First up, if you are going into combat against an enemy, it pays to have insight into their methods and strategies. To know as much of their playbook as possible so you can more effectively prepare your defenses against their attacks.

According to Dr. Valerie Young, there are five types of impostors. The Perfectionist, The Expert, The Natural Genius, The Soloist, and The Superperson. You can read more about them at the link, but essentially, that deals with how you feel like an impostor. But regardless of how it presents we have to remember:

This is not an accurate evaluation of self, it is a sadistic and sad little clown on your shoulder diminishing your talent and voice. Don’t listen to the little sad clown. He has no foundations in truth or interest in accurately assessing your skillsets.

“Bastard cancers! The big chunky Charlies!” as Daffy would refer to them were this The Beach. These unwelcome tourists in our lives, eating up our whole creative world with their lies and consumptive, diminishing ways.

NIKE UP!

Just do it. As both the purveyor of sneaks and inspo Shia would have you do. Work your magic and make your art. Don’t linger in the lie, and let yourself be held back by its incriminating taunts.

Push through the diminishing vibe the clown wants to attack you with, and stop you in your tracks beneath the weight of. Knuckle up, bear down, and make it happen, Cap’n! You can and will make it.

Ignore that voice if you can, and lend it as little credence as possible if you cannot.

COMMIT, DON’T QUIT

Double down, and give your everything to learning your art. And know that it is always an ongoing learning process. One of constant struggle and accomplishment. But the learning never ends.

And as long as you are committed to learning and growing constantly and consistently, then you are no impostor. You are a boss leading and lighting your way through the sad clown’s haze and madness.

So don’t give up on the dream and your art as you suffer the shenanigans of the clown. Recommit yourself to it. Keep expanding your knowledge and skills across the field.

But to fight off the fires of impostorism, one must regularly drink from the wells of knowledge and experience.

REEVALUATE YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

One reason you may not feel like your accomplishments are meaningful or relevant is because you might be working off of someone else’s definition of what success is supposed to look like.

You are an individual. And so your path to success and even where that bar setting lands and how it looks, is going to be just as individual and unique as you are. So don’t let someone else dictate what success means for you or your art.

Set your own bars, and define those terms for yourself.

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

When you make sure your team is stacked with exceptional people, they make it easier for you to rise to their level, and achieve higher heights. So be sure you have the right teams to elevate your role and contributions.

You might think that this would only add to the effectiveness of the little clown, but when your team supports and uplifts you, they will not let you falter. They will ensure you rise to the challenge, and help you see in you what they do through their support and attachment to the project.

Know that if they felt you were not good enough to work with, or you didn’t know your craft, then they simply would refuse to participate. So see their commitment to the film, and to you, as reassurance that you belong there.

CELEBRATE DON’T CRITICALLY EVALUATE

To combat the unwanted and unwarranted input of the sad little clown, take a celebratory look through your past catalog of work. And do so with the special charge of finding and focusing on all of the wins throughout.

This is not for you to critique and pick apart places where things could be improved, this is about celebrating your successes. And remembering the times that you adapted and overcame to create your art on your terms.

The times you made it happen against all odds, or whatever the case may be. But celebrate yourself and the fact that you have managed what you have. Relish and recognize. You did this. And know that you can do it again.

BE YOUR OWN GATEKEEPER

Industries, especially those like film, are setup with gatekeepers galore, all establishing themselves as the arbiters of taste and all things artistic and deemed worthy of attention and opportunity.

Their lack of acceptance and opening of the gates for you can add validity to the mocking tone and talk of the little clown. But this should not be seen as a reflection of you or your deserving of a place within the yard.

Be your own gatekeeper and maker of your own opportunities. Where there’s a will, there’s a way has never been truer. In an age where storytelling technology and access to spaces is expanding like never before, it is easier than ever to chase this dream.

Don’t let others decide your worthiness of whether or not you should be seen and heard. Set your own spotlight and make sure you are.

AM I FIT FOR THIS CROWN?

Adapting the King, talk about Impostor Syndrome. Forget about it. It’s levels above the normal setting my syndrome tends to run at. If you ever want to feel like you are unworthy or don’t belong in your chosen artistic field or profession, try adapting the work of someone you have idolized and respected for decades.

That will make you feel like an impostor with a capital “I.” Hence it feeling like an apropos time for this piece on dealing with Impostor Syndrome. Especially since, as I have mentioned in Issues past of the newsletter, that I have made some changes to the story.

And when you set out to not compare yourself and your art to others in order to help silence the impostorism, then adapting someone else’s work isn’t the easiest time to keep your mind from drawing those unhelpful comparisons.

But you just have to trust that you will be guided by the vision and your voice, your understanding and interpretation of the story, and of course, your reverence and respect for the original material and its creator.

And though that sad, little clown will sing like a siren, sounding off with its toxic cries of incompetence or inadequacy, you just have to let its song roll in one ear and out the other, while you focus on the more important task at hand. Making the adaptation work and be something you are proud of having produced.

So when the clown ups its ante, you have to call each and every time. Hold your ground, don’t go to it.

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