I hear the phrase: “fake it ‘till you make it” uttered at an alarming rate, from all types of people and I have to confess, I’ve always hated it. Beyond the standard contempt reserved for overused, unimaginative and lazy turns of phrase—the “woke AF YOLOS” and “thirsty clap backs”, I’ve always felt there was something more insidious lurking beneath the casual, even playful surface of this particular phrase. And that thing is self-doubt.
Self-doubt, especially in the creative process has haunted people since the dawn of consciousness, or at least self-consciousness. It can sometimes serve as a necessary check on the ego — a healthy shot of humility, but far more often, it can overwhelm us and hinder our ability to succeed.
The thing about making progress in life and succeeding is, it takes time. And as we continue to hone our talents those gains become increasingly incremental. This can create a fundamental imbalance where a small proof of gains is outweighed by a large, ever-present sense of self-doubt. It can make it feel like we’re imposters, and push hard-working people to say stupid things like “fake it ‘till you make it.” It’s called Imposter Syndrome, and though it isn’t recognized as an official disorder, it’s a problem that’s been well documented.
Here’s the truth: you’re not faking a damned thing. You’ve put in the work, sacrificed untold hours and you continue to get up every day to willfully put your creative self-worth on the line. So stop giving credence to this bullshit and maybe start to do some of these things more often:
Accept the praise you receive as genuine and well-earned
Don’t feel guilty about your successes
Try not to fear failure (I know this one is much easier said than done)
I’m working on a brand right now that advocates the belief that we are all works in progress and there’s absolutely no shame in admitting it. It’s a refreshing and powerfully honest stance to take in a world full of overly curated and controlled messaging from people who are increasingly concerned with their personal brands.
I for one, am just going to keep working hard, confronting self-doubt in the open and, hopefully working past it. So if you’re worried that you feel like a faker or an imposter, know that you’re not alone and you’re probably doing a good job. And if you are, in fact faking it in the hopes of making it, I hope you realize that you’ve based your approach to success on a mindless catchphrase and things will probably catch up with you in the long run.