Big Cat, Little Cat: Impostor Syndrome
Cinematography: Erika Grumet
Executive Producer: Rocket
Big Cat: Frob
Little Cat: Widget
Description below.
Impostor Syndrome
It seems like nothing is as integral to the writing process as impostor syndrome. I should really have called this website 3 Rules of Writing. And the third rule should have been: “Stop it with this impostor syndrome bullshit. You’re not fooling anyone. We know exactly how good or bad a writer/parent/person/friend you are and we love you anyway.” But there’s a reason I don’t talk like that. Or… that I mostly try not to talk like that. Part of the reason is that I suffer impostor syndrome, too. And that stuff doesn’t work on me. Maybe it works on you, but I doubt it.
Impostor syndrome usually comes from trauma. And that kind of bullying language doesn’t help anyone to deal with trauma. What helps us deal with trauma is being shown the wide-open space. And then being led by the hand into it.
The 2 Rules and the Wide-Open Space
When you experience trauma over and over, you start to occupy a smaller space. And so part of the treatment involves learning to occupy a larger space. To let your imagination wander. To see possibilities beyond survival and self-preservation. Of course you can’t do that without addressing those needs.
Thus, the two rules
- You must make mistakes.
- You must finish something.
essentially mean: learn to take up space: for your failures AND for your successes.
Sometimes I balk at all of this self-care stuff. Meditating and self care and a light that helps to counteract seasonal affective disorder… But what’s the alternative? Th alternative is being depressed and miserable and not having the energy to write. So I keep going. Because it takes work to remain in thee wide open space. And it takes the support of a community.
Description
Only one panel this time, with two cats sitting side by side on a cushion. The little grey on the right is looking straight out of the frame as if accusing us of something. The big orange on the left is looking down at the little grey, nodding in agreement at what he is saying.
Big Cat: No comic today.
Little Cat: Just your periodic reminder that other people are better at impostor syndrome than you.
Big Cat: And they’re judging you for it.
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