Episode 34: Do It Anyway: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Walking Dharma

This week's podcast is called,"Do It Anyway: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome."

Imposter syndrome comes from trying to mold yourself after someone else's vision, ideals, standards and definitions of what you should do, act like, look like, express and create.

It often arises when we put ourselves out there with our work, our creative energy and our self expression. Imposter syndrome is what holds many of us back from doing our work/expressing whole heartedly as we fear rejection and failure. To overcome it we must understand where it comes from, how to identify it when it is arising and then navigate the art of doing what we want to do anyways, regardless of our fear and deep seeded lack of self worth.

This episode features philosophy from the Bhagavad Gita and Buddhism. We use sloka 2:47 and 2:48 from the Gita as guiding principles in unpacking how to overcome imposter syndrome:

"To work alone you are entitled, never to it's fruit. Neither let your motive be the fruit of action, nor let your attachment be to non-action."

"Being established in yoga, perform your action, casting off attachment and remaining even-minded both in success and failure. This evenness is called yoga."

We also unpack the three types of laziness as taught by Pema Chodron. They are- comfort orientation, loss of heart and couldn't care less.

The original music at the end of the podcast is produced by @tecnicomusic (aka Karishtan) and can be listened to on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/album/2KxarC2rELTvT6MSufxnbk?highlight=spotify:track:0mWK6fBUfPS4hmnuGFxnOZ