A 3 step adventure for writers dealing with imposter syndrome that will help to look fear in the eye and smile
A short story on finding what’s underneath fear, understanding it and dealing with it.
NO TRESPASSING! The signpost is clear. You should not be here, should you?
Like many storytellers, getting exposed to other people frightens me. Once I arrived late in a radio show because I had to visit another room first. I felt stressed out before every speech. After 7 years and 150 presentations around the world it was enough. I had to go on an adventure and confront my fear.
Chapter 1 — Finding what’s underneath the fear.
Alone, in a comfortable cabin along a small river, I spend 60 hours sitting and walking the hills around me. No phone, no books, nothing but my own thoughts. It felt like 600 hours. Halfway I could filter out that little voice telling me: ‘you are a fraud, one day they will expose that you have no clue what you are doing.’
Chapter 2 — Looking the thief in the eye.
Ehh… Who are you? ‘You untalented, unskilled and unaccomplished faker! I am the truth!’ Ehh… Wait a minute. I have time. You know what. I will just sit with you for a while. … I am thankful for how you keep me sharp, but you gotta stop shouting. ‘I WON’T!’ … Don’t steal my happiness, I won’t listen to you. ‘We’ll see!’
Chapter 3 — Notice when the thief makes his move.
Am I allowed to climb this fence? There’s a path on the other side running towards the top of a green rocky hill. When I put my feet on the fence I hear a voice shouting ‘HEY!’ I freeze, take a step back from the fence and look behind me. There’s nothing except a dog running through the distant fields..
In seconds I go from fear to laughter. I jump over the fence and climb the hill. When I look over my shoulder I realise the thief is no longer there.
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