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Why “Impostor Syndrome” is a Bullshit Term (And Must Be Cancelled)

Self-doubt and discomfort signal growth, not flaws

David Loewen
Pragmatic Wisdom
6 min readSep 12, 2024

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A hand illustration of a measuring meter — called a “Bullshit Early Warning Systems (BEWS)”
Author’s image — Prototyping a new tool

I’m watching the phrase “Impostor Syndrome” circulate the Internet like wildfire — like a viral video post of some ding dong’s wipeout on a bike.

Every day a social media post, an article, a newsletter issue.

“I have Impostor Syndrome,” say many.

It’s unfortunate because it’s a Bullshit term.

It’s spouted off all too common in The Creator Economy, in writing circles, entrepreneurs, business owners, or even the world of employment.

Two Core Problems with the Terms

Calling it a “syndrome” is misleading and counterproductive.

A syndrome implies a collection of symptoms, something wrong or disordered. A syndrome is often defined as:

“A set of symptoms or conditions that occur together and suggest the presence of a certain disease or an increased chance of developing the disease”

— National Cancer Institute

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Pragmatic Wisdom
Pragmatic Wisdom

Published in Pragmatic Wisdom

Simple lessons for our complicated modern times, drawn from philosophy, religion, and common sense

David Loewen
David Loewen

Written by David Loewen

Crafting Words Driving Change | Educator | Ghostwriter | Founder Box Cutter Co. | Cofounder Humanity Academy | https://www.davidloewen.org

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