How to Solve Imposter Syndrome the Biblical way

Hey friend!!!

So, I was talking to a musician friend the other day about buttery voiced singer and songwriter Michael McDonalds book, where he discusses having life long imposter syndrome. Which was shocking considering all the success and Grammys he's had. The musician friend I was talking to said “whats imposter syndrome?”. Once I explained it, he goes “that's wild, I've never had that…”

I was shocked, there are people who are literally walking this earth, and it never occurs to them that maybe just maybe, they arent as good at their craft as they (or others) think, even if its not true🤯. I mean, what an amazing existence that must be!!!

Trust me, those people are aliens. 😂 Im kidding. If not aliens, they are definitely not the norm. Most people are going around hoping they measure up. Often due to some unresplved trauma, or even a statement one person made 20 years ago. It could be you drew a cartoon, and other kids laughed at it (I tried once, and never tried high level drawing again for this reason, lol).

Fact is, Imposter syndrome is a very common experience, especially among high-achievers and those in demanding fields. It's the feeling of self-doubt and the persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud" or undeserving of one's accomplishments. Overcoming imposter syndrome can be challenging, but here are some strategies that Ive found that can help. Being a pastor, public speaking is a must, yet I never felt like I was doing a good job, until I started doing these things below. Now, even if no one tells me “hey enjoyed that message”, I know that I did my best job because I did these things.

Passion: Cultivate and nurture your genuine passion for what you do. When you're truly passionate about your work or craft, it can help mitigate imposter feelings by reminding you of your intrinsic motivation and love for the subject matter. Passion can also fuel your continuous learning and growth, which can bolster your confidence in your abilities. I still have a fear of crowds, but when I'm preaching, my passion for what I am called to do overrides my fear of public speaking.

Mentoring/Coaching: Seek out mentors or coaches who have been through similar experiences and can provide guidance, support, and perspective. A good mentor can help you recognize your strengths, provide constructive feedback, and offer strategies for dealing with imposter feelings. They can also share their own experiences and how they overcame similar challenges, which can be incredibly validating and empowering. Taking classes and having mentors on public speaking, exegesis, homiletics, and more, helped me to feel like “hey, I've trained or have been taught how to do this properly”, even if I'm merely saying that to my own self. That went a long way in helping me overcome the syndrome.

Encouragement from others: Build a supportive network of colleagues, friends, and family members who can offer encouragement and positive reinforcement. When you experience self-doubt, these individuals can remind you of your accomplishments, talents, and potential. They can also help you reframe negative self-talk and provide objective feedback when imposter feelings arise. You need community whose evaluations and opinions have actual weight. Join a local club or a social media group of people who do what you do. Ask them to evaluate your performances or whatever it is you do, so that you have qualified feedback and encouragement. Your mom will always tell you that you did good, and that helps, but also find people who have no vested stake in what you do.

Discipline of craft: Continuously hone your skills and deepen your knowledge in your field. Imposter syndrome often stems from a fear of not being good enough or not knowing enough. By committing to ongoing learning and practice, you can build confidence in your abilities and expertise. Set goals for professional development, seek out new challenges, and celebrate your progress and growth. In other words become absolutely maniacal about learning how to become 1% better at what you do, every day. Study and follow those who are better than you like a hawk. If you are a youtuber, you should be studyingthe top youtubers online AS WELL AS those in your niche.

Additionally, it's important to recognize that imposter syndrome is a common experience and not a reflection of your actual capabilities or worth. Reframe your thinking by acknowledging your accomplishments, celebrating small wins, and reminding yourself that feelings of self-doubt are natural and do not define your abilities.

Here are some scriptures that if we read them conceptually (not just exegetically or theologically), perhaps we can apply confidence boosting principles to our lives:

• Passion and Purpose: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Colossians 3:23)

• Mentoring and Guidance: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." (Proverbs 12:15) "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." (Proverbs 13:20)

• Encouragement and Support: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

• Discipline and Perseverance: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

I saw this video by success guru Alex Hormozi, and it made perfect sense. I posted the notes for you below, but I HIGHLY recommend watching the video:

Video summary

The video discusses the importance of preparation in various work contexts, emphasizing that exceptional results require an extraordinary amount of effort. It highlights the difference between average and top performers, illustrating that success is often a result of extensive preparation and hard work. The speaker shares personal anecdotes to underscore the value of preparation in achieving outstanding outcomes, whether in content creation, sales meetings, or customer interactions.

Highlights:

• 00:00³  Preparation in Work Contexts

  • Discusses resetting the bar for preparation

  • Highlights the importance of preparation across different fields

  • Shares personal experiences and the impact of preparation on success

• 01:59⁴  Content Creation Insights

  • Reveals insights from top content creators

  • Emphasizes the extensive preparation behind successful YouTube videos

  • Encourages resetting standards to achieve exceptional content

• 03:34⁵  Consulting and Sales Preparation

  • Shares a story about consulting preparation

  • Demonstrates the impact of thorough preparation on client perception

  • Suggests that even minimal preparation can significantly improve outcomes

• 10:11⁶  Building a Championship Team

  • Discusses the benefits of surrounding oneself with high achievers

  • Mentions the book “Grit” by Angela Duckworth

  • Advocates for joining teams with high standards to improve skills

• 14:51⁷  Cramming as a Preparation Strategy

  • Argues in favor of cramming for high ROI on time

  • Differentiates between preparation for frequent tasks and one-time events

  • Suggests that anxiety often indicates underpreparation

• 23:01⁸  Determining Preparation Effort

  • Advises on determining the amount of preparation based on the stakes

  • Recommends extensive preparation for high-stakes, one-time events

  • Concludes that preparation is key to overcoming nervousness and achieving success