# You're Not a Fraud — Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
URL:: https://share.snipd.com/episode/d787ee82-df96-4fdd-bb74-e0a2dc4074ff
Author:: This Jungian Life Podcast
## Highlights
> Episode AI notes
> 1. The ego engages in a dialogue with various inner figures and internal structures, leading to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity.
> 2. Imposter syndrome is common among doctors due to carrying the projection of being an expert or healer, which can be burdensome but necessary in certain roles.
> 3. Discovering the gap between our current selves and our potential future selves can evoke feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome.
> 4. The issue with imposter syndrome is not feeling it, but letting it hinder us from taking action. It's important to acknowledge it and continue moving forward.
> 5. The characters in The Wizard of Oz lacked internal acknowledgement of their accomplishments despite displaying courage, wisdom, and love. Symbols such as the ticking heart clock and graduation ceremonies serve as bridges to self-awareness.
> 6. To combat the brain's negativity bias, writing down every positive thing someone says to you can help curate and focus on positive feedback.
> 7. Imposter syndrome involves guilt and fear of success, often stemming from perceived advantages in education or being labeled as the 'smart one' in the family. Addressing these reasons is crucial to overcoming imposter syndrome.
> 8. Taking ownership of our victories and failures by attributing them to our own actions or inactions can empower ourselves and our children. ([Time 0:00:00](https://share.snipd.com/episode-takeaways/5f25cb98-024d-4933-bd57-679b4ab98353))
> The Ego's Comparison to Inner Figures and Archetypes
> Key takeaways:
> - The ego engages in a dialogue with various inner figures and internal structures.
> - We often idealize certain figures on our inner landscape.
> - We may project these idealized figures onto people in our lives.
> - This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity when comparing ourselves to these figures.
> - The ego's confidence can be disrupted by the interaction with these inner figures.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 2
> And in some ways, this is relevant to Jung and his ideas because our ego is situated on an inner landscape, and it is in dialogue with various inner figures and internal structures. Sometimes, on that inner landscape, we have idealized figures, figures that seem supernaturally wise, and perhaps we've even projected these onto our professors, onto our parents, Onto our coworkers, particularly if we're in an industry that we've longed to take part in. You've been in medical school and you're looking at the heads of the departments and they seem just so extraordinary. These are also internal projections that we've carried, archetypes of the wise one, the artisan, any number of those really extraordinarily skilled archetypal forces, and when The ego compares itself to any of these figures, it finds itself lacking, nervous, unsure, dishonest, and less than. Although people who are actually evaluating our work might say, you look great. You're doing exactly what we hoped you would do. But there's this dance between the ego and these other figures inside of us that seems to interrupt our confidence. ([Time 0:04:11](https://share.snipd.com/snip/9ddef24d-396d-4367-81aa-f7f6a8aa51e7))
> Imposter Syndrome Among Doctors: The Burden of Projection
> Key takeaways:
> - Imposter syndrome is common among doctors
> - Becoming a physician requires carrying the projection of healer and expert
> - Carrying a projection can be burdensome but necessary in certain roles
> - Wearing an archetypal cape is part of being an expert or professional
> Transcript:
> Speaker 1
> It's very common among doctors, imposter syndrome, apparently, if you just do a little bit of research, very common among doctors. And I thought, oh, of course, because to become a physician, you have to be willing to carry the projection of healer to step into your authority in any field, you have to be willing to Carry the projection of expert, or wise old man or wise old woman. And that, it's a big burden. It's a big burden to carry a projection. And it is actually necessary in some instances, like, for example, when we're an expert, when we're a CEO, when we're, you know, a film star, when we're a doctor, that we are clothing Ourselves with a kind of archetypal cape. ([Time 0:06:01](https://share.snipd.com/snip/8f4d530a-b471-4a11-9739-22363ebb552b))
> The Discrepancy Between Our Current and Potential Selves: Exploring Feelings of Inadequacy and Imposter Syndrome
> Key takeaways:
> - The passage discusses the discrepancy between one's current self and their potential future self.
> - This discrepancy can evoke feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 1
> I also want to see if I can kind of go back and elucidate a little bit further this idea about a discrepancy between who we experience ourselves now and who we know on a deep level we might Become and how that discrepancy can bring up feelings of inadequacy and imposter. ([Time 0:17:05](https://share.snipd.com/snip/8bb5906b-5e91-482e-80de-ad9b8d86404f))
> The Issue with Imposter Syndrome: Acknowledge and Keep Going
> Key takeaways:
> - The issue with imposter syndrome is that it stops us from taking action
> - Acknowledging and feeling imposter syndrome is important, but we should keep moving forward
> Transcript:
> Speaker 1
> The issue with imposter syndrome, I think, is not that we feel it, but that it stops us from doing something. So it's sort of like when you feel it, feel it, acknowledge it and then keep going. ([Time 0:20:13](https://share.snipd.com/snip/b1adf883-eb6c-4fbf-b10c-123d3e570154))
> The Wizard of Oz analogy and the bridging symbol
> Key takeaways:
> - The characters in The Wizard of Oz lacked internal acknowledgement of their accomplishments despite demonstrating courage, wisdom, and love.
> - The ticking heart clock symbol bridges the demonstration of love with internal acknowledgement.
> - Graduation ceremonies and diplomas serve as ways to link the worlds together.
> - According to Jung, only the symbol can heal.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 2
> And I think that goes to the Wizard of Oz analogy really nicely, that despite the demonstration of courage, the demonstration of wisdom, the demonstration of love in the three characters, They lacked an internal acknowledgement of their accomplishments. And that's where the Wizard of Oz has a kind of uncanny trickster wisdom that the acknowledgement and the skill needed to be and the skill needed a bridging symbol.
> Speaker 1
> Ooh, that's great.
> Speaker 2
> And so the ticking heart clock is the symbol that bridges the true demonstration of love with the internal acknowledgement that the diploma or testimonial bridges the scarecrow's Actual knowledge with their capacity to acknowledge it. And there is something about that and maybe that's why we do have graduation ceremonies and diplomas and other ways to link the worlds together. That's great.
> Speaker 3
> I like that a lot. And that's straight out of Jung, isn't it? That only the symbol heals. ([Time 0:26:07](https://share.snipd.com/snip/396dd7bc-0920-4c9f-bf1b-cf959d4342ec))
> The Negativity Bias and How to Combat It
> Key takeaways:
> - The human brain tends to pay more attention to negativity.
> - Negative reviews can have a stronger impact than positive ones.
> - One way to combat negativity is by writing down every positive thing someone says to you.
> - Curating positive feedback can help counter superficial feedback.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 1
> The human brain is kind of wired to pay more attention to negativity. So friends I have for the theater, you know, they're very careful about reading negative reviews because you could read five positive reviews and one negative one and your brain is Kind of kind of simmer around the negative one. So you have to sometimes take action to combat that. And I remember years ago, someone gave me some advice that I practiced for a little while. The person said, get yourself a notebook. And in it, write down every positive thing that someone says to you. You know, so when someone says, wow, you, you know, that was a really great job. I really enjoyed, you know, that presentation that you gave, write that down. When a client says, thank you so much, you've really helped me write that down. So that you're kind of curating the positive feedback, not superficial feedback. ([Time 0:29:43](https://share.snipd.com/snip/771d8f84-2c1f-4924-b0eb-9512cf608b77))
> The Influence of Guilt in Imposter Syndrome and Family Titles
> Key takeaways:
> - Individuals with imposter syndrome often experience feelings of guilt, which can manifest as a fear of success.
> - Guilt in imposter syndrome can be triggered by perceived advantages in education and opportunities, leading to a sense of being an imposter.
> - Public recognition and success can elicit guilt if it feels unfair compared to others.
> - One's upbringing as the 'smart one' in the family can contribute to imposter syndrome.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 2
> That individuals with imposter syndrome often have feelings of guilt, which then show up as a fear of success. And some of the ways that the guilt shows up, but they don't necessarily go into why the guilt is there, which is one of the things that I think we can try to take hold of. When the guilt is under the imposter syndrome, it shows up like I received a really good education, but other people didn't have that opportunity, and therefore I feel very guilty and An imposter being publicly acknowledged by others for the success can induce feelings of guilt, feeling that it's not right or fair to be in a better situation than a friend or a loved One can evoke guilt. And then interestingly, the way one has been titled as a child, being the kid in the family who is always a smart one. ([Time 0:33:30](https://share.snipd.com/snip/a9b4ca55-0056-4fe9-9fa0-866c0c60a411))
> The Benefits of Taking Ownership of Our Victories and Failures
> Key takeaways:
> - Our successes and failures should be attributed to our own actions or lack of action
> Transcript:
> Speaker 2
> So wonderful thing that we can do for our children but also do for ourselves is to look at either our successes or failures as you were saying and correctly attribute them to our own action Or lack of action. ([Time 0:48:34](https://share.snipd.com/snip/09ebc657-9319-439b-8a95-37da9184aaea))
---
Title: You're Not a Fraud — Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Author: This Jungian Life Podcast
Tags: readwise, podcasts
date: 2024-01-30
---
# You're Not a Fraud — Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
URL:: https://share.snipd.com/episode/d787ee82-df96-4fdd-bb74-e0a2dc4074ff
Author:: This Jungian Life Podcast
## AI-Generated Summary
None
## Highlights
> Episode AI notes
> 1. The ego engages in a dialogue with various inner figures and internal structures, leading to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity.
> 2. Imposter syndrome is common among doctors due to carrying the projection of being an expert or healer, which can be burdensome but necessary in certain roles.
> 3. Discovering the gap between our current selves and our potential future selves can evoke feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome.
> 4. The issue with imposter syndrome is not feeling it, but letting it hinder us from taking action. It's important to acknowledge it and continue moving forward.
> 5. The characters in The Wizard of Oz lacked internal acknowledgement of their accomplishments despite displaying courage, wisdom, and love. Symbols such as the ticking heart clock and graduation ceremonies serve as bridges to self-awareness.
> 6. To combat the brain's negativity bias, writing down every positive thing someone says to you can help curate and focus on positive feedback.
> 7. Imposter syndrome involves guilt and fear of success, often stemming from perceived advantages in education or being labeled as the 'smart one' in the family. Addressing these reasons is crucial to overcoming imposter syndrome.
> 8. Taking ownership of our victories and failures by attributing them to our own actions or inactions can empower ourselves and our children. ([Time 0:00:00](https://share.snipd.com/episode-takeaways/5f25cb98-024d-4933-bd57-679b4ab98353))
> The Ego's Comparison to Inner Figures and Archetypes
> Summary:
> Our ego interacts with inner figures and structures on an inner landscape. Sometimes we idealize figures and project them onto our professors, parents, or coworkers. These internal projections, archetypes of skilled forces, make the ego feel lacking and unsure. Despite external validation, the ego's dance with these figures interrupts our confidence.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 2
> And in some ways, this is relevant to Jung and his ideas because our ego is situated on an inner landscape, and it is in dialogue with various inner figures and internal structures. Sometimes, on that inner landscape, we have idealized figures, figures that seem supernaturally wise, and perhaps we've even projected these onto our professors, onto our parents, Onto our coworkers, particularly if we're in an industry that we've longed to take part in. You've been in medical school and you're looking at the heads of the departments and they seem just so extraordinary. These are also internal projections that we've carried, archetypes of the wise one, the artisan, any number of those really extraordinarily skilled archetypal forces, and when The ego compares itself to any of these figures, it finds itself lacking, nervous, unsure, dishonest, and less than. Although people who are actually evaluating our work might say, you look great. You're doing exactly what we hoped you would do. But there's this dance between the ego and these other figures inside of us that seems to interrupt our confidence. ([Time 0:04:11](https://share.snipd.com/snip/9ddef24d-396d-4367-81aa-f7f6a8aa51e7))
> Imposter Syndrome Among Doctors: The Burden of Projection
> Summary:
> Imposter syndrome is common among doctors due to the burden of carrying the projection of being an expert or healer. This burden is necessary in certain professions, such as being a CEO or a film star. It's like clothing ourselves with an archetypal cape.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 1
> It's very common among doctors, imposter syndrome, apparently, if you just do a little bit of research, very common among doctors. And I thought, oh, of course, because to become a physician, you have to be willing to carry the projection of healer to step into your authority in any field, you have to be willing to Carry the projection of expert, or wise old man or wise old woman. And that, it's a big burden. It's a big burden to carry a projection. And it is actually necessary in some instances, like, for example, when we're an expert, when we're a CEO, when we're, you know, a film star, when we're a doctor, that we are clothing Ourselves with a kind of archetypal cape. ([Time 0:06:01](https://share.snipd.com/snip/8f4d530a-b471-4a11-9739-22363ebb552b))
> The Discrepancy Between Our Current and Potential Selves: Exploring Feelings of Inadequacy and Imposter Syndrome
> Summary:
> Discovering the gap between our current selves and our potential future selves can lead to feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 1
> I also want to see if I can kind of go back and elucidate a little bit further this idea about a discrepancy between who we experience ourselves now and who we know on a deep level we might Become and how that discrepancy can bring up feelings of inadequacy and imposter. ([Time 0:17:05](https://share.snipd.com/snip/8bb5906b-5e91-482e-80de-ad9b8d86404f))
> The Issue with Imposter Syndrome: Acknowledge and Keep Going
> Summary:
> The problem with imposter syndrome is not feeling it, but letting it hinder us from taking action. The key is to acknowledge it and continue moving forward.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 1
> The issue with imposter syndrome, I think, is not that we feel it, but that it stops us from doing something. So it's sort of like when you feel it, feel it, acknowledge it and then keep going. ([Time 0:20:13](https://share.snipd.com/snip/b1adf883-eb6c-4fbf-b10c-123d3e570154))
> The Wizard of Oz analogy and the bridging symbol
> Summary:
> The characters in the Wizard of Oz demonstrate courage, wisdom, and love, but lack internal acknowledgement of their accomplishments. The ticking heart clock symbolizes the bridge between true love and self-awareness. Graduation ceremonies and diplomas serve as symbols that link different worlds together, inspired by Jung's belief in the healing power of symbols.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 2
> And I think that goes to the Wizard of Oz analogy really nicely, that despite the demonstration of courage, the demonstration of wisdom, the demonstration of love in the three characters, They lacked an internal acknowledgement of their accomplishments. And that's where the Wizard of Oz has a kind of uncanny trickster wisdom that the acknowledgement and the skill needed to be and the skill needed a bridging symbol.
> Speaker 1
> Ooh, that's great.
> Speaker 2
> And so the ticking heart clock is the symbol that bridges the true demonstration of love with the internal acknowledgement that the diploma or testimonial bridges the scarecrow's Actual knowledge with their capacity to acknowledge it. And there is something about that and maybe that's why we do have graduation ceremonies and diplomas and other ways to link the worlds together. That's great.
> Speaker 3
> I like that a lot. And that's straight out of Jung, isn't it? That only the symbol heals. ([Time 0:26:07](https://share.snipd.com/snip/396dd7bc-0920-4c9f-bf1b-cf959d4342ec))
> The Negativity Bias and How to Combat It
> Summary:
> The human brain tends to focus more on negativity. To counteract this, it's helpful to write down every positive thing someone says to you in a notebook. This way, you can curate and remember the positive feedback instead of fixating on the negative.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 1
> The human brain is kind of wired to pay more attention to negativity. So friends I have for the theater, you know, they're very careful about reading negative reviews because you could read five positive reviews and one negative one and your brain is Kind of kind of simmer around the negative one. So you have to sometimes take action to combat that. And I remember years ago, someone gave me some advice that I practiced for a little while. The person said, get yourself a notebook. And in it, write down every positive thing that someone says to you. You know, so when someone says, wow, you, you know, that was a really great job. I really enjoyed, you know, that presentation that you gave, write that down. When a client says, thank you so much, you've really helped me write that down. So that you're kind of curating the positive feedback, not superficial feedback. ([Time 0:29:43](https://share.snipd.com/snip/771d8f84-2c1f-4924-b0eb-9512cf608b77))
> The Influence of Guilt in Imposter Syndrome and Family Titles
> Summary:
> Imposter syndrome involves feeling guilty and fearing success. The guilt can stem from a perceived advantage, like a good education, or being labeled as the smart one in the family. It's important to address the reasons behind the guilt to overcome imposter syndrome.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 2
> That individuals with imposter syndrome often have feelings of guilt, which then show up as a fear of success. And some of the ways that the guilt shows up, but they don't necessarily go into why the guilt is there, which is one of the things that I think we can try to take hold of. When the guilt is under the imposter syndrome, it shows up like I received a really good education, but other people didn't have that opportunity, and therefore I feel very guilty and An imposter being publicly acknowledged by others for the success can induce feelings of guilt, feeling that it's not right or fair to be in a better situation than a friend or a loved One can evoke guilt. And then interestingly, the way one has been titled as a child, being the kid in the family who is always a smart one. ([Time 0:33:30](https://share.snipd.com/snip/a9b4ca55-0056-4fe9-9fa0-866c0c60a411))
> The Benefits of Taking Ownership of Our Victories and Failures
> Summary:
> A great thing we can do for ourselves and our children is to attribute our successes or failures to our own actions or inactions.
> Transcript:
> Speaker 2
> So wonderful thing that we can do for our children but also do for ourselves is to look at either our successes or failures as you were saying and correctly attribute them to our own action Or lack of action. ([Time 0:48:34](https://share.snipd.com/snip/09ebc657-9319-439b-8a95-37da9184aaea))