Some years ago Stanford University published a well-known study on “impostor Syndrome” – which is the feeling we have when we believe that we have been elevated beyond our capacity and sooner or later someone will figure out that we are not qualified and will fire us. Apparently, the farther up you go on the ladder of success, the more likely you are to feel as though you are unqualified…and that everyone knows it.
The answer is not to set your bar lower, but to begin to understand that we all at times feel as though we are out of answers, and don’t know if we can meet the challenges that are in front of us.
Here’s some tips to overcoming your fears:
1. Work hard. When you work hard you have less anxiety about the unknown. You are doing what you can do, which makes us feel better.
2. Be humble. If you are humbly admitting that you don’t have all the answers then there is little pressure be perfect. When you build yourself up to know everything, you are going to suffer anxiety.
3. Be Prayerful. The words and life of Jesus are a great example of humility and grace. When you follow Jesus you need not be defensive. Remember that reputation and self are just props of our modern culture and not a part of following Jesus.
What other advice do you have for those that feel like they are not qualified or overwhelmed?
David Curry
