The Wizard of Oz and the Impostor

The Wizard of Oz and the Impostor Syndrome

Spot the impostor syndrome! I am thinking about how many movies are full of meaningful messages and analogies that only through the years and with a curious attitude can we unveil and find powerful messages behind to share with others.

1. Really all of them.

Were all the characters of the Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and even Dorothy, and maybe even the Wizard itself, suffering from some level of imposter syndrome? felt anxious, not experiencing success internally, even despite performing well and achieving their goals on their way to the wizard. Didn’t they do what they said they lacked? Funny that we can see it in others; we can watch it in a movie, but when it comes to ourselves, it becomes harder to be aware.

2. Making ourselves aware of it

Have you ever felt so busy and
obligated to take everything that comes your way? (I’ll let you in on a secret here; you don’t have to.) Are you a perfectionist? a superwoman or a superman? Maybe a natural genius? a soloist or an ultra-specialist expert? Have you ever had the feeling that you were pretending but, at the same time, knowing that you were more than qualified for the task? Uh, I know, the mind can play tricks on us. I bet you have seen or heard of confident people who are playing in much higher leagues, positions, or jobs and perhaps even less qualified than you. Right? It happens. I wonder if these top players ever felt something like impostor syndrome, and how they managed to overcome these negative feelings and
emotions.

One thing I am sure of, is that they did not let the society nor their environment to define who they are, so don’t let society define who you become and stay alert to kick out the impostor syndrome every time it comes around,” but we know it doesn’t work that way; it is unconscious, relentless, and can easily take over us, making us feel like an impostor, a fake, a field cheater, but you know you are not, are you? Very unfair, right? What makes you think that?.

3. The two friends you don’t want to invite.

Someone said we are the worst judges of ourselves, and when these two friends, Mr. Impostor Syndrome, decide to hang out with Mr. Inner judge, the game changes to a different level, with a steep road ahead full of negative self-talk, limiting beliefs, and red flags everywhere. You better be prepared with your toolbox to chip you out of there.

Before I continue, I want to remind you that you are much more than just a professional in the eyes of those who surround you. You are a human, a person, a father or mother, friend, brother, son, etc. capable of amazing things and just limited by your personal beliefs and what you think others think of you. How are you so sure of that? of what others think of you? I challenge you to challenge that belief. When it comes to your mind, ask yourself that question: How am I so sure of that? Most of the time, we believe in an external perception that is made up of ourselves, and even though we have no proof of it, we believe it to the core, so ask yourself, “How am I so sure of that?”.

4. Work is only work.

There is a whole world going on in your mind. I get it, but work is just work; it will never end, so it makes sense to learn through it and make it enjoyable. If you have to work, then make sure that part of your life stays that way in that space, no more than that, because you also have a personal and spiritual life that can be thrilling and full of joy. It only depends on you, with family and/or friends, the community, your pet(s), and whatever you like. But you need to make space for it, so don’t let the work you do take over your mind and personal time. Don’t take me wrong; we all need a job to make a living. What I am saying is, don’t live to work; work to live. It will give you a better flavor and strengthen you as a human, which will help you to keep these two negative friends apart.

5. Recognizing impostor syndrome

Let’s delve into some of these emotions or feelings that the impostor syndrome brings upon us. What about “feeling guilty when your day is not full of activities and work?” You have the right to enjoy what you are doing; not everything is highly important. If you are not fully occupied, guess what? You still deserve that job! Enjoy your not-so-busy time; it will change for the better, and when you really get that busy, don’t forget work is only work.

What about becoming a superwoman or superman? Sounds cool, right? Saving the day all by yourself as a soloist at work can be a dangerous strategy. There is a very thin line between procrastination, perfectionism, and burnout. You feel “always” that you must do things so perfectly that you never start the real work, the execution becomes delayed, and in trying to achieve goals, you fund so many obstacles that you focus more on them than on your vision or how to achieve these goals. Be careful; don’t get trapped!

6. Stay aware and be prepared!

Quit listening to negative environmental nuances, hang out with people that add positive things to your life, and develop awareness of the little things that invite these two bad friends together (Mr. Impostor Syndrome and Mr. Self-Judgement). Turn your attention to positive things that surround you and your career. Your environment directly affects the way you think, feel, and even act.

Quiet your own negative self-talk: “I am not smart enough” or “Why bother? I will probably fail.” These are random negative thoughts that pull you back and don’t let you be who you really are. There are three things you can do to prevent or quiet your own negative self-talk: STOP comparing, STOP critiquing, and STOP complaining. Have a support system; start building up your network with friends, relatives, colleagues, and anybody else you consider who can help you gain a different perspective on your current
situation or current emotional state. They don’t need to be cheering you up all the time, but at least they can provide you with resources that can help you in those moments. If you like movies, it might be a good idea to have a list of movies you enjoy watching and see if they bring your energy up, even better if you can relate to it. Same you can do with audio books and playlists, maybe some specific place you like to visit.

Certainly, we won’t know how each of the characters from The Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and Dorothy got their impostor syndrome, but we do know that they supported each other and thrived together. I guess they found a support system on the way to the Wizard of Oz..