Coping with imposter syndrome as an artist
How to face imposter syndrome with self-compassion.
This blog post will cover:
What is imposter syndrome?
Consequences of imposter syndrome for artists
Why on earth does this happen to us?
Imposter Syndrome and Social Media
How can we deal with this?
Updated: 28.07.21
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome refers to an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be.
Feelings of fraudulence are extremely common.
Albert Einsteins described this feeling at the end of his life and research shows that 70% of us will experience this during our lifetime.
Research shows that this internal experience does not discriminate between gender, age or culture, but it is a bit more represented in marginalized groups.
The word syndrome is kind of misleading, because it is so common and more of a normal psychological phenomenon.
It´s not necessarily linked to depression, anxiety or self-esteem.
Consequences of imposter syndrome for artists
You keep your thoughts and artwork to yourself and don´t share your great ideas.
You might miss out on great opportunities and jobs that you will excel in.
It can feel easier not to try, which in turn can lead you to stop painting or practicing your craft.
You price your artwork too low.
It can have economic consequences if being an artist is your full time job.
Why on earth does this happen to us?
Normal Development
One way to think of it is as a normal psychological development. As a child we experience our parents and older siblings as more competent and different from us. It´s not possible to imagine our parents as children when we ourselves are 4-5 years old. And we also need them to be safe and competent to feel safe and competent ourselves. In other words, it´s a normal stage of development.
Inside looking out
As humans we know ourselves from the inside, but we can only know others from the outside and through our own perceptions, thoughts and ideas.
As a consequence we have more information about our own anxieties, self doubts and regrets than we do others which in turn lead to false belief about others as more competent then us.
Efficiency of the brain
Our brain takes mental short cuts.
This is a good thing because consciously processing every bit of information would probably turn our brain into a fried hard drive. Imagine walking around and constantly having your brain filled with other peoples thoughts, anxieties and struggles.
Imposter Syndrome and Social Media
Most artists these days use social media as a fun and powerful tool to gain an audience, community support and to develop a brand and business.
Have you ever felt like an imposter scrolling through your feed? No wonder. It´s an even more edited version of the other person than meeting them in real life (which in itself can trigger feelings of being an imposter).
This makes me think of artists on Instagram reporting that their sketches do way better than their completed artwork. Maybe the sketches resonates more within us, because deeply we are all flawed and dealing with the struggles of life. A sketch feels more real, maybe you even feel more connected to the other artist seeing this side of them.
How can we cope and overcome imposter syndrome?
Acceptance:
It is a common human experience. A normal one. It´s not you, it´s your brain, and everyone else’s brain trying to take a short cut and deal with the complexities of life.
Observe it as a mental process
Observing it can create a distance to it and give you some space to choose how to meet this experience. For instance, what are the feelings underlying these thoughts?
Self-compassion:
With self compassion we try to give ourselves the same care and kindness we would give a close friend who is suffering.
Everyone else also have feelings of inadequacy. We are all flawed and disturbed in some way. You are not alone.
Instead of judging ourselves for having these thoughts and feelings, try to practice acceptance and observe it with a kind stance as you would to a dear friend.
Practice gratitude as an alternative to attributing your successes to luck, and dismissing them because you believe yourself to be an imposter.
Some people like to keep a gratitude journal, but also saying it out loud to yourself can be powerful. For instance “I´m grateful for my orders in my shop today”. I´m grateful for being able to paint, I´m grateful for...
Support your local artist and community
Instead of trying to convince your fellow artists and friends that they are not an imposter, maybe share your own experience. It can make us feel less alone and give some relief.
Choose your SoMe Feed
When you see a certain post on Instagram, how do you feel? Is this an account you want to follow? If not, unfollow. Surround yourself with people and content that help support your well-being and creativity.
Write down your successes and things you are proud of. For example:
- Client testimonials.
- A goal you have reached.
- Something you have learned and practiced (like drawing hands better or a new embroidery stitch).
- Your business revenue.
- Positive feedback from friends and family.
Try to notice how you feel when writing or thinking about your successes. What feelings came up? What kind of thoughts popped up in your mind? While exploring this, try to meet yourself with kindness and self-compassion. What would you tell a friend who have accomplished the same things as you?
Practice positive affirmations. For example:
- I am good enough
- I will be okey
- I’m on my way to something great
- I’m enjoying the process
- Everything will be okey
You can look at it as giving your mind an alternative to those automatic negative thoughts that fuel the feelings of being an imposter.
Thank You…
…for reading this far. I hope this was a helpful.
I wish you all a compassionate and kind art journey.
Do you want to read some more? Check out this blog post about art block
