Earlier this September, I launched a video podcast called Pathways to Thriving. I started conducting and recording interviews somewhere in August, purely with the intention of highlighting voices of individuals who not everyone gets to hear. In my opinion, these individuals are thriving. I feel they have valuable things to share.
A Path
It’s been such an interesting journey doing these podcasts. There has been one voice that I have not wanted to highlight and that is the loud voice from within that tells me I’m an imposter. I dread seeing myself on camera or in photos, and I worry intensely about the conversations I’m recording. Am I asking the right questions? Do I make a decent enough host? My big question is why would anyone listen? If I heeded the doubts within, I don’t think I’d have launched the podcast.
Other Travellers
One of the things I’ve been noticing during my interviews is that quite a few of my guests seem to deflect credit. Quite a lot of this happens behind the scenes and some of them express genuine surprise at my wanting to interview them. They ask me the question I have often asked myself, which is ‘Who would want to hear what I have to say?’
This has made me realize that many of my guests too are struggling with a similar voice that calls them an imposter. These remarkable people are dealing with the imposter phenomenon.
The Destination
I can’t help but think that most of us have goals that we’d like to achieve, or places we want to get to. This is the fuel that drives us in our work. Yet, whilst the destination may be clear, there are constant challenges. The response I see in my guests on the podcast, and quite a lot of others out there that I want to interview, is that they don’t let the challenges deter them from their destination. I think this is grace and resilience in action. It is truly inspiring!
Smoothing the Path Forward
As we journey to our goals, there are times we fall to imposter syndrome or other hurdles. This is okay if we consider that failure becomes experience that we can tap into for the future. We don’t have to remain stuck. We learn how to get over one rut, and then another. This experience gives us the tools to navigate challenge while keeping our eyes on our destinations. Experience also gives us the strength and wisdom we need to deal with any other failure that comes our way.
Moving Ahead
It is helpful to know that I am not alone in my battle with imposter syndrome, and that there are many others who are remarkable, who are doing battle with it. These folk bring to reality the literature I’ve read. It is real that imposter syndrome strikes those who are looking to achieve or who are already high-achievers.
I am reminded of three things:
- The difficulties we have in our struggles with imposter syndrome remind me of the beauties we see in the fragility of our humanity. This is where resilience, tenacity, and grace really come to light. This is where we grow in wisdom.
- Our struggles with imposter syndrome are aided when we deal with it in community. As we share our vulnerabilities and the stories of how we failed or overcome challenges, we are building a body of experience that helps others. It becomes a resource that we ourselves can tap into when dealing with the phenomenon.
- Courage doesn’t happen in the absence of imposter syndrome. Courage happens in its face. Every time we stand up against our doubts, we’re being courageous. We must celebrate this!
- Pathways to Thriving is the name of my podcast. I recognize now how apt this name is because our battles with imposter syndrome and self-doubt is but a pathway to our thriving in our personal and professional lives.
If this resonates with you, check out my Pathways to Thriving podcast and meet with the remarkable folk I’ve interviewed, who sometimes feel like imposters, but push through and thrive despite the doubts and challenges they face. Their experience will empower you.
Leave a Reply