Imposter syndrome’s grasp on creatives
Image created using Dall-E 3
We’ve all felt it. This feeling that we aren’t good enough and that we don’t belong. We compare our creative work to that of others and equate it to our self-worth.
BetterUp defines imposter syndrome as “the condition of feeling anxious and not experiencing success internally, despite being high-performing in external, objective ways. This condition often results in people feeling like ‘a fraud’ or ‘a phony’ and doubting their abilities.”
These feelings are tough to deal with. You can win every award, get every compliment, and get paid all of the money in the world, but still feel like you’re not doing good enough. In fact, for creatives, these feelings are even more prevalent. Dr. Valerie Young of the Imposter Syndrome Institute says that “Being in any creative field makes you more susceptible to imposter feelings…the very nature of creative work makes everyone more vulnerable to feeling inadequate.”
As a graphic designer and photographer, I am constantly experiencing these feelings. I work with incredibly talented people. As much as they are inspirations to me, when I feel that they have created better work than me, I beat myself up.
I have had a lot of success in my short career. I have held great positions, won multiple awards, and heard every compliment there is. But no matter what, I can’t shake these feelings.
You see, I am by far my harshest critic. And if I’m not satisfied with what I’ve created, then no amount of praise can tell me otherwise.
When I receive compliments or praise, I tell myself “they were just trying to save your feelings” or “they don’t know what they are talking about”. Meanwhile, I’ll be talking to one of the most experienced or decorated designers I know. I think they would know whether something looks good or bad.
“You see, I am by far my harshest critic. And if I’m not satisfied with what I’ve created, then no amount of praise can tell me otherwise. ”
So, what can be done about this? Well, as there are a number of root causes for imposter syndrome, there is not really one answer to this. However, a start would be attempting to reframe your thoughts.
It is crucial to learn to recognize when the feelings you are having are imposter syndrome because then you can work to combat them. From there, you can recognize that nobody is perfect and that everyone – including yourself – has worth.
Eventually you will learn to accept these feelings and reframe them to be more positive. Seeing a therapist can help you to combat these feelings more tangibly.
Imposter syndrome is incredibly common, but there are ways to get past these feelings. One step at a time, we can all learn to appreciate ourselves and the work we do a little more.
Hi! My name is Peyton McKenzie.
I am a professional graphic designer, photographer and content creator.
I encourage you to explore my portfolio to get a better idea of the work I create. If you are interested in working with me or have inquiries of any kind, don’t hesitate to reach out over email.
