Ever find yourself in a situation where you have to tackle a specialized task, and flex muscles that you haven’t used in a while? And imposter syndrome starts to set in?
Maybe it’s helping your child with his algebra homework.
Maybe it’s cooking or baking a complex recipe for company coming over.
Maybe you’re taking the field/pitch/gym/rink as an athlete for a sport you abandoned years ago.
Maybe you’re up in front of others and you have to convince them that you know what you’re talking about, like teaching a class, leading a group exercise, or presenting at an event.
Maybe you’re showing off a talent of yours in a performance, like singing or dancing or acting, but it’s been a long time since you last took the stage.
It’s like riding a bicycle – once you learn how, you can always do it… right? You know that you know how to do it. Well at least, you knew how to do it, once upon a time. You’re pretty sure you can do it again. All the evidence shows you can do it. And yet, deep down inside, there’s a tiny but convincing voice saying oh my god what are you thinking you haven’t done this in forever how dare you think you can do it again oh god oh god this is crazy you know you can quit now and you won’t be embarrassed this is nuts stop stop STOP…
There’s joy in re-discovering that yes, you can still do it. And in the satisfaction of telling the tiny but convincing voice of your lizard brain to shut the hell up.
The Joys of JJFoley 