Give it a name
One of the glorious singers I work with, who will remain nameless for this blog purpose, inspired this blog post!
She messaged me after a performance and said “It is as though just by naming and acknowledging (the imposter syndrome) I was able to release it.”
Naming what?
Naming that which is in the way, that which is needing validation, needing attention, needing, needing.
Often we feel that if we acknowledge the need, we give it too much power and that it will consume us.
Absolutely NOT. We must acknowledge and not dismiss. If we dismiss it, that’s when we cannot place what we are dealing with.
It doesn’t need to be imposter syndrome - it could be something else. What are you trying to release? What stands in the way? Is it in your control? Is it in your power? Even if it’s not, can you actually name it?
Imposter syndrome is very much a common syndrome - and it shows up in all kinds of ways. The self-doubt is a real thing. It can invalidate, it can dismiss, it can completely dismantle or freeze an artist. It can show up in so many ways: from technical issues, to power struggles, to mind games, and on and on.
Don’t ignore it. Face it head on. Call it out. Call it BY NAME. Giving it a name allows your take back the power. It allows you to take back YOUR power.
Are you feeling, or do you sometimes feel powerless and depleted? Why? Riddle it out and give it a name. Write it out, journal it out, stand in front of the mirror and speak it out.
It’s easy to go into a self-destruction descent. It’s easy to fall into the self-blame, or the victim. Before you say, “yeah but” - I get it. Some of us have been victims. Hear me out: if we know we have been victims, why would we want to stay there? Let’s give it a name, and not accuse ourselves further, and get the help we need to make that victimhood find its place and stay there. The name “victim” has a boundary; you don’t have to continue carrying it.
So, what is keeping you “stuck”? Is it internal, external, or both? Is it new or is it old? Is it pattern creating or are you breaking patterns?
Instead of saying “Hey, you!” take on saying “hey, you! Yeah, YOU {give it a name}”
Jealousy. Frustration. Imposter Syndrome. Self-deception; Delusion; Victimhood; Excuses. Depression. Anxiety.
Allow it be real. Name it, understand why it’s there, and then put it in a place where it’s contained and walk away with the knowledge and understanding that YOU are the boss of you, not some external/internal power struggle that somehow thought it could be a part of your inner conversation.
And if you don’t think I haven’t had to deal with this, you are truly mistaken! We all have. I am no exception to that.
The realization allows for us to be aware of the traps, the self-talk, the inner lapses, so we can catch ourselves more quickly the next time.
Those traps can be that we get desperate. Desperation can show up in many different ways: not dealing with things and everything is fine; blaming someone or something but continuing to do the same thing; trying too hard to please; trying too hard and exhausting yourself; getting bitter; over-practicing and causing fatigue; trying to get too many opinions all at once looking for that magic bullet;
All of these and more create a desperation that is hard to see past, breathe through or get clear about. It causes a constant fight or flight response.
So, exhale, and riddle it out. Give it a name. Recognize it for what it is and begin peeling the layers away to release it. It may release immediately; it may take time; it may push back;
Just keep naming it and putting it in its place. Its place is not in you, with you or near you. That I know for sure.
The rest, is UP to you.
with fondness & fierceness,
