How to Deal with Second-Degree Impostor Syndrome (It’s A Thing)

Spend any time in the personal development or entrepreneurship world and you’re bound to hear the term “Impostor Syndrome” a couple times a day.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, take a seat. Class is in session.

Basically, Impostor Syndrome is the feeling that we’re not good enough to have/be/do what it is that we want.

It’s constantly feeling like a fraud.

That it’s only a matter of time before everyone “works you out”.

It’s asking “Who am I to do [insert dream here]?”

That’s all good and well (but not really), but I kinda feel like there’s a second kind of Impostor Syndrome that kicks in once we actually start doing the thing we felt we couldn’t in the first place.

I call this Second-Degree Impostor Syndrome.

And it looks a little something like this:

“Is this the day that I fail?”

It’s important to note that I’m not suggesting this become a mental operating system, but it’s more that it becomes a by-product of the creative process of sharing your ideas with the world.

For me, it looks like sitting down every morning wondering if this is finally going to be the day my writing bombs, I miss a day, or I write something people hate.

Instead of asking “Who am I?”, it looks a little more like “How long can I actually keep this up?”

And every time I notice it happening, my job is simple.

I notice it, thank it for popping in, and then get back to work creating anyway.

Instead of looking at it as a sign of pending failure, I can choose to view it as a symbol that I’m doing something I care about.

And, just like with the classic Impostor Syndrome, you can have a little fun with this by actually answering the questions you find yourself asking.

Who am I to share a daily article? I’m a badass who’s invested a ton of time, money, and energy into his growth and who is passionate about helping others do the same!

Is this the day I fail? Hell no! I know that some of my best articles have come from posts I thought were my worst. And today might become my best!

The next time you find yourself wondering how long you can keep operating at your best, remember that you have the power to choose your response.

You can give in to that voice and prove all the naysayers right, or you can accept it as part of the process and get back to creating your life’s work.