Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

[Kubash16]

Any tips?

Especially when it comes to things that are more personal. For instance, making the decision to sell artwork you have created and formulating pricing. There is such a huge voice saying I’m not good enough for that.

 

[somerandomguy]

I totally get this. I wish I had an answer for it.

 

[Tinyflame]

I learned imposter syndrome is a natural reaction/ conclusion for a person with a non-NT brain to draw because of not being able to remember the steps that led them to success in the past.

But a voice saying you're not good enough sounds like maybe a self-esteem issue. Or a need (not really conscious) to maybe even avoid what may come with success?

I would love to see your pictures! :) ? I used to (technically) be very good at painting, and won many awards for it (never my idea to enter them, done without my consent), but I had a sister who was profoundly talented and so I considered it nothing. But it would be a dream to paint for a lifetime. I wish you success and I am sure you are very talented! :):hug:

 

[Muttly]

There are a lot of situations where "fake it until you make it" doesn't work. This is one where I think it can. Pretend you are what you are - a talented artist. If it was someone else's work, that you thought was good and marketable, what would you tell them? Ignore the doubting voices and go with that. It doesn't solve the impostor feelings at first, but over time it can dim them down.

 

[Ronin]

One So Not Good Enough artist lost his ear on a MI...

... Art is subjective. Do not listen to the doubts, or what the appeal to masses is. Do things for you, & showing your creations to others by wish, not for validating you.

 

[Karolina12]

"fake it until you make it" . . . Pretend you are what you are - a talented artist. If it was someone else's work, that you thought was good and marketable, what would you tell them? Ignore the doubting voices and go with that. It doesn't solve the impostor feelings at first, but over time it can dim them down.

Exactly this, so well said.

The success comes first, the confidence comes second.

Taking action is the only way to get there & you don’t have to overcome the impostor syndrome first.

The way I think of it, is I disagree with the impostor syndrome. We agree to disagree and move on. (Easier said than done, I know.)

 

[Kubash16]

Thank you all for your answers! I need to take some time to absorb them. It’s so damn hard.

 

[ladee]

I am an artist because I say I am. My art does not appeal to everyone nor would I want it to.

Good luck with putting your work out there for others to enjoy.

 

[PreciousChild]

I just had a discussion with my T about this. Not about art (no one wants my art), but about feeling like I'm faking it. She said in a sense we all have to learn social skills which doesn't come naturally, so we are all being unnatural to some extent, but I think it's the degree to which we think we represent our authentic selves.

 

[Friday]

but I think it's the degree to which we think we represent our authentic selves.

Also the huge amount of credit given to others, IMO... as if other people don’t have the same struggles, insecurities, time spent being new, making mistakes, learning, etc.

There’s a really great quote / modern proverb

“Never judge your insides, by other people’s outsides.”

Just because someone else (much less everyone else, which is automatically a cognitive distortion) appears to be self confident, have it easy, belong, whatever? Doesn’t mean that’s actually what they feel, NOR their actual history. Someone who appears to have it all? May be falling apart inside, or may legit be on the top of the world after years of hard times. Just because we don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not real.

 

[NeverGiveUp]

Oh, the impostor syndrome...

It's one of my continuous struggles. I do have that cruel voice many of you probably know... I'm not an artist, so it doesn't talk about art, but it talks instead about my personal relationships. In particular, it's about relationships with women and it comes when I'm having doubts about something, or something doesn't go well or perfect even. It appears as an intrusive thought which goes like "How I even dared to talk that woman in the first place?! I'm a horrible person and she must be ashamed of herself because I talked to her and disturbed her." or "I'm so ugly/I'm mentally ill and it's so obvious, so of course she must hate me.".

What I'm trying to do and which works sometimes (sometimes not, unfortunately) is that I try to analyze rationally what's going on and whether what I'm thinking has anything related to reality. In most cases, it becomes obvious that I'm just blowing things out of proportion, like focusing on some little and insignificant details, or worrying about something that didn't happen and may never happen at all.

I also found that asking for constructive feedback, sometimes just even talking about the situation, can help. Usually the other person doesn't have all those negative core beliefs, so she can actually explain the situation from an objective point of view.

In your case, maybe you can ask someone to evaluate your artwork and help you to establish an adequate pricing? Doesn't have to be an art expert, just someone who you can show your art and who can talk to you gently about it.