Do you remember the old Saturday Night Live skit done by Al Franken as Stuart Smally? He would look in the mirror and teach us how daily affirmation are the key to feeling good about ourselves? Recently, I heard of a new "syndrome" called Imposter Syndrome. People who experience imposter syndrome have difficulty internalizing their successes which they achieve. Even when confronted with proof of their successes they will deny it or attribute it to luck, timing or their ability to deceive others regarding their intellect or abilities. Also, they are concerned that others will find them out and discover that they are really a fraud. Furthermore, greater achievements do not result in greater assurance, but only contribute to diminished confidence.
Do you have Imposter Syndrome? I do. Who doesn't? But look!! The psychological field has discovered a new syndrome which contributes to a condition in most humans I call "normal." This used to be called low self-esteem, but now it has been repackaged so new books on old topics can now be rewritten.
However, there is another book, ancient as it is, which was written over 4,00o years ago and completed about 2,000 years ago, which addresses this same problem. The Bible addresses this new confounded syndrome as a universal human condition, referred to as "sin." When we have trouble internalizing our successes we are simply experiencing fear. More specifically fear of what others may think. The Bible calls this fear sin, because whatever we fear, we allow to control us. Whatever we fear has our allegiance. That is why we are commanded to fear God and not people. Not because God has low self-esteem, and needs us to need God. But because in Christ, our Creator, we find meaning, purpose, peace and a love which drives away fear. However, apart from Christ we find bondage to what others think, we feel trapped by conditional relationships and caught in a never-ending cycle of performance-oriented interactions.
My solution to the Imposter Syndrome is not in daily positive self-affirmations, but is through recognizing that this is just another beam in my eye. A beam derived from my own sinful condition. A beam when removed by confession to God and authentic interactions with others will enable me to see myself more accurately as a sinful person yet a redeemed person through Christ.
Are you an imposter like me?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I absolutely have Imposter Syndrome. The beam in my eye, though, is I use the Imposter Syndrome to hopefully cover my sin of vanity and/or arrogance. It has taken some time (and still working on it by the way) to break such a nasty habit and find the appropriate response. Your post reminds me that I need to thank God for the gifts and talents He has lovingly granted to me in order to reflect His glory. After all, anything and everything I do should be done for His glory alone.
ReplyDelete