How to Face Fear, Imposter Syndrome and Do it Anyway!
Guest Post
Excerpts by Harvest Collective Alumni Members, Lauree Ostrofsky and Lanie Smith
Is “hard-ness” a sign you should stop what you’re doing? Does chronic self-doubt, also known as imposter syndrome, make you feel like you’re spinning in circles like a hamster on a wheel?
We’ve all been there! You’re about to embark on something new. But doing new things usually means facing fear, doubt and “imposter syndrome.” Here are excerpts from two Harvest Collective alumni members that offer great tips on how to face fear, imposter syndrome and do it anyway.
Doing it Anyway When You’re Scared by Lauree Ostrofsky
Have you ever been so scared of failing you were frozen in fear? Me too. More times than I expected would happen.
Each time I felt that way I would wonder if it was a sign I should stop. Admittedly, I look for the easy path, the choices that feel natural, and most of the time it’s helpful. So when this is hard happens I usually run for the exit while looking for reasons why the hard-ness is a sign. Because everything can be a sign, right?
If I’m trying to get it right all the time, how will I ever really go for it? How will you?
No wonder it felt so hard, I was swimming through get it right or else mud. I was scared to try anything because the stakes were so high if I got it wrong.
Keep Doing It Anyway the next time you’d rather hide in fear.
Not knowing if you’ll get it right means you could fall or knock it out of the park. Either way you still get the love, respect, belonging from people you trust, including me. Time to jump off a jungle gym!
Imposter Syndrome: Embrace the Terror Barrier by Lanie Smith
I’ve had a long history of discounting my strengths in order to magnify my shortcomings. This only led to me feeling like a complete fraud, not only in art-making, but in most endeavors. Starting my own business not only brought all of my self-doubt to the surface, it became a true test of my commitment to stay the course even when I had no idea if I could really handle such responsibility.
Chronic self-doubt, also know as the imposter syndrome, kept me striving like a hamster on a wheel. Luckily, I have learned to thank that voice of doubt kindly for trying to protect me from ridicule or harsh critique and proceed anyway.
The trick is to do it anyway. Do it scared, expect the fear, and keep your eye on the end goal.
Ignoring your fear may work temporarily, but with the actual acknowledgment of fear, you now gain the chance to go beyond rather than get stuck unknowingly. Once you have acknowledged your fear, it is important to show gratitude for that instinctual and protective part of you that is hard-wired to avoid pain, embarrassment, and danger.
It makes sense that we would not want to risk public ridicule as we are biologically set to remain a part of the pack rather than separated from the tribe, but we are no longer a tribal culture. We can survive without the approval of everyone as long as those closest to us continue to support and encourage us. More importantly, we don’t need to win the acceptance of the mass majority if we have our own commitment to stay true to ourselves first and foremost.
Want even more tips on what to do when fear comes knocking? Click here >>
About Lauree:
Lauree Ostrofsky, PCC, CPC is an author, speaker, coach and hugger with SimplyLeap.com. She helps women spend less time worrying about what everyone else thinks, and more time figuring out what they really want to do. Her books, “I’m scared & doing it anyway” and “SIMPLY LEAP,” are available on Amazon and Kindle, and in select stores nationwide.
About Lanie:
Lanie Smith, MPS, ATR is a Registered Art Therapist and founder of Integrative Art Therapy in Phoenix, AZ as well as co-founder of Theheartmattersretreat.com. She specializes in anxiety, depression, burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, disordered eating, body image, emotional discord, and relationship conflict. She also supervises and consults other therapists, leads trainings on the ethical use of art in therapy and offers workshops and retreats.