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Imposter Syndrome
It comes in the night, it comes to us all at some point. Imposter syndrome sneaks under your door, into your ear and head, when you least expect it. It whispers that you're a fraud, that you have no right to play with the other kids, that you're not good enough and people are just being polite.
If this is you, welcome to the party, and it's a damn big one.
Even highly successful authors like Neil Gaiman deal with it. He talks about going to a prestigious event, full of scientists, artists, people who had ACHIEVED stuff. He stood at the back of the hall, feeling like an imposter, and talking to an elderly gentleman who shared his first name.
The old guy pointed at the crowd and said something like "I just look at all these people, and I think, what the heck am I doing here? They’ve made amazing things. I just went where I was sent.”
Gaiman replied, “Yes. But you were the first man on the moon. I think that counts for something.”
Conclusion? if Neil Armstrong felt like an imposter, maybe everyone does. It's perfectly normal. And perhaps feeling like an imposter gives people the kick up the ass to try harder.
So maybe it can be a good thing too.
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