S H A M M E R S

Does the REAL

T H E     R E A L L Y     R E A L      Y O U

ever stand up?

I  BELIEVE

are absolutely powerful words.

I  BELIEVE .     .     .

I believe that there’s no one that writes a better blog, that speaks a more powerful message, that brings a more awesome presentation–EVER–than me.  .  .

I   BELIEVE

I believe it with all of my heart

but.     .     .

I       K N O W       IT’S      NOT       TRUE

Ahhhhhhh. . .the Classic Case of the Impostor Syndrome.  .  .

It’s an old term.   .  . 1978

coined by a clinical psychologists

Dr. Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes.

The Impostor Syndrome refers to a high-achieving individual marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a 

wait for it

wait for it

wait for it

.          .          . a   fraud.

Pauline and Suzanne both surmised that despite external evidence of their competence, those exhibiting  the syndrome remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the success they have achieved.  Proof of success is dismissed as success is dismissed as luck, timing, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent and competent than they believe themselves to be.  .  .  .

Marianne Williamson assures,

“We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?                                   ACTUALLY, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE?

The Impostor Syndrome

is, if not universal. . .pervasive.

I remember reading once that the great Nobel Laureate, Maya Angelou once said,

“I have written eleven 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'”

I often feel the same right before a presentation or a workshop I’m presenting

or every Sunday morning as I stand before a congregation

or a grieving family as I conduct a loved one’s memorial service

or when I look in the mirror 

and know the real truth.  .  .  .

Does the Real you

T H E    R E A L L Y    R E A L    Y O U

ever stand up.  .  .  ?

Uhhhhhhhhh. . .

Would  You  Recognized   Y O U

if   you   did ?

Pssssssssst.  .  .

B     L      I      N     K

and look again.       .       .

and do what you’ve been doing all of your life

looking the  I M P O S T O R

right in the eye and spitting in it

as you go on living on in spite of the

haunting   S H A M M E R !