The Imposter Syndrome

The Creativity Clubhouse meeting this morning was SRO. Hah. Well. Almost. Please join us… Every Wednesday morning, 10:00 Eastern.

For me, there were so many takehomes. We talked about the labels around Imposter Syndrome. Insecurity. Good enough. Much of IS circles around comparison. We compare ourselves to others when we would be better served as creatives if we trusted ourselves to be capable. WHOA!

Many visitors chimed in, nervously and for the first time, voices quavering with emotion (!) to share their journey, to overcome despair, and to do their work. More words:

• Perseverance
• Creating Space
• Courageous
• Deadlines
• Leaving a legacy

I want to talk about one person’s share in particular. It was about the intersection of science and creativity. Here’s why I think that’s not a disconnect. In the “scientific method,” the goal is to experiment. Make something. Test it. See if it works. Repeat. (In so many words.) Creativity is the same. Make, test, see if it “works.” But then, who does it need to work for? And what is it really for in the first place? Science is easier to measure, which somehow gives it “worth” in the marketplace. More so if it actually does work. On the other hand, the arts are not so easy to measure. And as we discussed today, monetizing our art puts the whole “freaking” thing in the hands of the gatekeepers. And therein lies the rub.

The Imposter Syndrome feeds off those niggly gatekeepers, who may or may not have any idea what they’re talking about. OR, those gatekeepers are not in your tribe. Find a different set of them, or negate them and publish (put your stuff out) on the streets, in the alleys, byways, and highways so your tribe can find you.

One of our clubhouse participants said how important it is to be original. Different. Amen.

“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” ~ Oscar Wilde.

If time, check this out!
“Make Good Art.” – Neil Gaiman