Do you also suffer from Imposter Syndrome like I do?
Imposter Syndrome (n): The persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's efforts or skills.
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LookingForIt987 · 51-55, M
SW-User
@LookingForIt987 I'm sorry you have to deal with it. Do you ever think it's because you haven't found the right job for yourself yet?
LookingForIt987 · 51-55, M
@SW-User That's a good question. 🤔 The smartass in me says it's just because I'm neurotic and need constant approval. :) Putting that jerk off to the side, though... I think the answer for each is different.
My "day" job is as a computer programmer. I'm going to get laid off next Spring - but it's in my financial interest to stay until that happens. I've been here over 16 years now - 17+ by the time the layoff happens. My skills are older - objectively, quite portable but still older. So ever since I learned about it, I've had to fight off the constant terror that I won't be able to find a job at all.
I've also done some freelance writing in the past. (Haven't in a while due to health issues I deal with sapping my energy.) In that case, the jerk in the first paragraph could be right. I never felt like I was a "real" writer - even though I probably have 75+ credits to my name, including some editing work. I can't write fiction, see, so therefore I'm not a "real" writer. And other people have written more than me in this particular field, so therefore I'm not a "real" writer. And on and on and on...
Dealing with it for my day job is mostly new, but I'll tackle it the same way I tackled it for my freelance work. I'll tell that guy to STFU and sit down somewhere out of the way, and dig in to get started. :)
My "day" job is as a computer programmer. I'm going to get laid off next Spring - but it's in my financial interest to stay until that happens. I've been here over 16 years now - 17+ by the time the layoff happens. My skills are older - objectively, quite portable but still older. So ever since I learned about it, I've had to fight off the constant terror that I won't be able to find a job at all.
I've also done some freelance writing in the past. (Haven't in a while due to health issues I deal with sapping my energy.) In that case, the jerk in the first paragraph could be right. I never felt like I was a "real" writer - even though I probably have 75+ credits to my name, including some editing work. I can't write fiction, see, so therefore I'm not a "real" writer. And other people have written more than me in this particular field, so therefore I'm not a "real" writer. And on and on and on...
Dealing with it for my day job is mostly new, but I'll tackle it the same way I tackled it for my freelance work. I'll tell that guy to STFU and sit down somewhere out of the way, and dig in to get started. :)
SW-User
@LookingForIt987 Yeah you tell that guy to STFU lol. Constant approval is nice. It does boost your confidence level whether you want to admit that or not. But it's just a temporary relief compared to your own approval of yourself. 🤗 You can absolutely suppress this imposter syndrome. Each of us is in a battle with ourselves. It's a matter of not giving up and keeping a positive attitude.