Lady Gaga and I Have This In Common. Do You?

The term ‘fake it ‘til you make it’ is a popular, common phrase.

Chances are you’ve heard it before.

Heck, you’ve probably even said it to someone before!

I personally love the saying. What I love about it is that it implies that you can simply wing most things (except brain surgery – that is 100% not wing-able).

But, as with all good things in this world, adopting this mantra comes with its own set of issues.

Namely, Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome hitchhikes on your back while you’re busy winging it, and ‘faking it ‘til you make it’ like the boss bitch that you are. It’s like an obnoxious roommate that won’t leave.

Or, once again for those in the back…

Imposter Syndrome is the last person at the party that didn’t get the memo that it was time to go several hours ago.

It’s the voice that gets inside your head and convinces you that your achievements don’t deserve the praise they get.

What a bitch, right?

But, there is hope here. 

You’re not alone. 

In fact, you keep really good – really famous – and really successful company. 

Check this out.

Even the legendary Tina Fey admits she feels like a ‘fraud’ at times.

“The beauty of the impostor syndrome is you vacillate between extreme egomania, and a complete feeling of: 'I'm a fraud! Oh god, they're onto me! I'm a fraud!' So you just try to ride the egomania when it comes and enjoy it, and then slide through the idea of fraud.” 

Slide through the idea of fraud. I like that.

How about Lady Gaga? 

She dropped this bomb during her documentary, 5 Ft 10.

“I still sometimes feel like a loser kid in high school, and I just have to pick myself up and tell myself that I’m a superstar every morning, so that I can get through this day and be for my fans what they need for me to be."

LOVE her.

Everyone’s favourite muggle, Emma Watson, even has doubtful moments.

In an interview with Vogue, she shared how she feels when people offer her praise for her acting:

“Now when I receive recognition for my acting, I feel incredibly uncomfortable. I tend to turn in on myself. I feel like an imposter.”

That is Riddikulus.

The crazy thing is though is that Imposter Syndrome and feeling like a fraud isn’t a new behaviour.

The civil rights activist, author, poet and Nobel Laureate Maya Angelou admitted;

"I have written 11 books, but each time I think, 'uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.'

So, what are we to do?

Well, we can start by recognising when Negative Nancy starts shouting her opinions at you.

And when she does?

You SHUT HER DOWN. 

Not today Karen!

You wouldn’t speak to others the way you speak to yourself, so treat yourself with the same kindness and respect that you do others. 

A trick I use on the regular is to get yourself into good self-talk habits.

I can’t stress this enough, so I will underline and bold this next sentence so you know I really, really mean it.

We need to train our brains to behave. We must create strong neural pathways that are positive and encouraging. 

You’ve heard it many times before, but how we speak to ourselves internally is so, so, so important. 

You must break up with the nasty, toxic, thoughts that can creep in.

It’s hard to do, trust me, I know.

I’ve been stuck in a headspace where I feel like a total imposter.

I seem like a total hardened badass on the outside, but I’ve walked down this path, and occasionally take a wrong turn and end up back there.

It honestly happens to the best of us.

You just have to remember to catch yourself and outweigh the negative with the positive. 

And as for Imposter Syndrome, that pesky, annoying roommate that you never wanted… ditch that bitch for good with the power of your mind.

You’re the wooden stake for this vampiric ghoul.