“I think, therefore I am” - Decartes

We’ve all heard that quote, right? It's a good one. A sort of nod to human curiosity or the human nature to think things out in our heads, turn them over and question them. It's an integral part of the human experience - to think and have our own unique thoughts and opinions is an intrinsic part of being human.

What if I told you that the full phrase is actually “I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am”. Pardon the pun but it kind of makes you think doesn’t it?!

Isn’t doubt just a baser description of imposter syndrome? We all know doubt is an intrinsic part of being human also, to doubt ones thoughts, ones abilities, even the people around us at certain points in time. To doubt is no bad thing. It arguably keeps us in check and even safe in some instances. Sometimes a lack of doubt can lead to disastrous consequences. We don’t have to look too far to see how a lack of doubt can cause chaos, political unrest and even civil or global wars.

If doubt has the potential to be beneficial and sometimes even steadying tool, it sort of implies that imposter syndrome can be a tool of sorts as well, doesn’t it?. Like any tool, it's how we chose to wield it that is the difference between something controlling us, or us harnessing control over the something.

I think it’s fair to say that generally speaking, women tend to feel the weight of imposter syndrome greater than men do.

The evidence? The modern day working and professional world is only just beginning to adapt to having women in it at all levels, gender pay gaps are still a very real thing, then theres the age old behavioral differences like women will go for an advertised job or promotion if they meet 90% - 100% of the criteria. Men will go for it with only a small percentage of the actual criteria, backing themselves that they’ll figure out the rest.

Based on this evidence, which of the genders is more likely to barrel on past imposter syndrome and which is more like to sit with it, brood over it, try make sense of it?

My main point here is, we all know imposter syndrome is a very real thing. However, we also know that doubt is an integral, necessary and beneficial part of the human experience. in the same breath, imposter syndrome may not be our enemy, but perhaps something to be embraced and welcomed and even has the potential to set us apart from the curve. But it has to be very firmly managed.

In summary, to doubt is no bad thing. However to let doubt consume you is a terrible thing. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Let the doubt be your friend that comes to visit every once in a while but know when to politely show it out the door.

Have any of you ever read the children’s book “Theres no such things as Dragons”? One day Billy wakes up and theres a dragon in his bedroom. His mom tells him theres no such thing as dragons. The dragon grows and grows and grows until it takes over the entire house until finally it's accepted and reduces back to a manageable size. If we accept doubt and imposter syndrome and harness them correctly, there is nothing to fear. In fact, in some cases, they can be a powerful weapon for us to wield to propel us forward and feel the fear and do it anyway.