How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome as an Artist

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I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.

-Georgia O'Keeffe

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Do you constantly ask yourself questions like “Am I doing this right?”, “Who am I kidding? I’m not an artist.”, or “Who am I to be making time for art?” when working on a new piece?

Have you ever felt inadequate, like you don’t belong someplace (an art class, art event, art supply store, etc.) or among a group of other artists, even though you’re deeply passionate about being there and share common interests with those around you?

Ever struggled with feeling like a fraud, or like someone’s going to pop up and tell you you’re doing it all wrong, even though you’ve been working hard at improving artistically?
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If you responded ‘yes’ to any or all of these, chances are you’ve struggled (or are struggling) with good ol' Imposter Syndrome. 

And you’re not alone.

It hits so many artists and creatives of all kinds… pretty much most people who’re doing anything big or uncommon.
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Just in case you’ve never heard of Imposter Syndrome before, Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as: ’A false and sometimes crippling belief that one's successes are the product of luck or fraud rather than skill. A pervasive feeling of self-doubt, insecurity, or fraudulence despite often overwhelming evidence to the contrary.’

People who’ve accomplished amazing things have described feeling this way at some point, including Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou, Tom Hanks and David Bowie. 
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​Today, I’ll be sharing a few tips that always help me overcome Imposter Syndrome when I feel it creep up.

I wanted to get this information and tips out there, as I see so many community members and students struggling, and I’m aware of how paralyzing these negative thoughts/feelings can be.

But first, let’s go over a few signs you may be experiencing Imposter Syndrome as an artist, as well as why this phenomenon tends to happen to us so frequently.

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Signs You're Dealing With Imposter Syndrome as an Artist 

• You're unable to accept compliments on your work

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• You experience overwhelming anxiety when starting a new piece

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• You have a prevailing perfectionist attitude and constant fear of failure

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• You feel you don’t deserve to ask for more when selling a piece, even after spending a good amount on supplies and time creating it

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• You feel out of place when visiting an art supply store or gallery, or attend an art event, workshop or class

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• You discount your achievements (such as your first art exhibit or sale)

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• You deeply worry about others' opinions about your work and choices in life

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• You're constantly comparing yourself to others and feel like your work is never good enough​

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Why This Phenomenon is So Common Among Artists

The International Journal of Behavioral Science states that, though Imposter Syndrome can affect anyone (70% percent of people have experienced it at some point in their lives), it hits artists, creatives and entrepreneurs of all kinds more frequently.

This makes sense because of a few different reasons:
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• Being an artist is lonely. It’s usually us and us alone not only creating the art, but also doing everything that’s necessary to share it or build/sustain a business around our art. It's imperative that we believe in its (and our) worth.

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• Art is subjective and there’s no measuring tool to tell us whether our work is "good" or "bad", or whether we’re doing things "right" or "wrong", which means we must have confidence in what we’re doing.

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• It takes a lot of courage, not only to create art, but also to put ourselves out there consistently. There’s a vulnerability that comes with creating and putting work out there for others to see.

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• With sharing our work and thoughts we’re opening ourselves up to criticism and other people's opinions, whether it’s with a smaller audience (family and/or friends), or a larger one (social media, galleries, events, etc.).

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• Now-a-days, because of social media, it’s easy to feel behind or like we’ll never reach other artists' skill level, as we’re bombarded with others’ amazing work and seemingly perfect art lives 24/7.

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All this said, though being an artist is challenging on many levels, it's also incredibly rewarding and fulfilling once you're able to push through "the suck".

Here are seven key things I remind myself of that always help me move past Imposter Syndrome so that I can continue focusing my time and energy on creating. 

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Remember These Things to Overcome Imposter Syndrome A.S.A.P.

1. Comparing yourself to others is a waste of time and energy. 
We’re all different and are at different points in our journeys. Consider doing a detox from social media if you find it's affecting you more often than not.

2. There's no one exactly like you. 
You are unique and nobody else in the world can create exactly like you can. Lean into your uniqueness (weaknesses and all).

3. Talk to your mentors or art friends for support and inspiration. 
People who share your same interests and are also putting in the work will help you recognize that your feelings and thoughts are both normal and irrational.

4. Look back and recognize your progress, as well as how far you’ve come since you started. 
Remember what you do well, what it feels to create when you’re in flow, and why you started in the first place.

5. Realize no one is perfect. 
Every-single-person out there (including those artists who’s highlight reels you come across on social media) is a work in progress and struggles with self-doubt, too.

6. Develop your self-worth and growth mindset. 
Here’s a great article with ideas on how to develop lasting self-esteem, as well as a list of amazing Ted Talks on developing a growth mindset and how it can help you reach your goals.

7. Understand that your brain is just trying to keep you safe. 
It wants to prevent you from doing things that are new and challenging, so it sends you signals to stop (that's why we have all these negative thoughts and limiting beliefs). Read all about this and how to override it here. 

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Just to finish up, feelings of self-doubt and nervousness are 100% normal and human. They don’t make you any less of an artist.

If anything, these feelings are a sign that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone, are being brave, and are taking action to grow in new ways.

And if you ever feel you don't belong somewhere your heart and spirit are telling you to be, remember that anyone who's actively putting themselves in the arena deserves to be there.

If you're passionate about art, are creating consistently, and are always looking to keep growing, you're an artist.

Don't be afraid to call yourself one!

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