Episode 18 - Imposter Syndrome

Stream of Art

Imposter syndrome is a frustrating obstacle many of us struggle to overcome. Our conversation this week stretches wide and goes deep as we explore how imposter syndrome has held us back and what we might do to help us move forward in our lives and art. Robyn ups her social media game and Michelle’s artist date plans are thwarted by a sudden cold.

Recorded on April 7th, 2024

Timestamps:

(0:27) Intro
(0:41) Robyn's week
(1:52) Michelle's week
(18:46) Main topic: Imposter syndrome
(19:41) The frustration of knowing it's holding you back.
(21:02) Confidence doesn't always grow alongside experience.
(22:57) Learning and realizing what you still don't know.
(26:21) A fear of being wrong and sharing thoughts that don't add to the conversation.
(28:25) "Fake it 'til you make it"
(32:43) Embracing our flaws and messiness
(39:44) It's all tied together
(42:51) We can't be for everyone
(44:38) Adam Grant's book Think Again
(45:53) Possible benefits of imposter syndrome
(47:17) Confident humility
(48:39) Being afraid of feeling stupid
(51:49) Living with integrity
(53:37) It takes courage
(55:45) One step at a time
(59:05) Being right in the thick of it
(1:02:15) Being a work in progress
(1:06:07) We promise we're not starting a cult...
(1:07:01) Books, books, and more books
(1:10:47) Robyn's week ahead
(1:18:29) Michelle's week ahead

Books mentioned:

Adam Grant’s book Think Again: https://adamgrant.net/book/think-again/

Cal Newport’s books Slow Productivity: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/722732/slow-productivity-by-cal-newport/ and Digital Minimalism: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/575667/digital-minimalism-by-cal-newport/

Glennon Doyle’s book Untamed: https://untamedbook.com/

Tiago Forte’s book Building a Second Brain: https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/book

Quotes referenced:

“When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own—not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work together like feet, hands, and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions.” - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1

Links:

Learn more about Robyn at https://www.robynlester.com/

Follow Robyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robynlester.art/

Learn more about Michelle at https://www.michellemonettemusic.com/

Follow Stream of Art on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/streamofartpodcast/

Please feel free to send questions and comments to [e-mail]

Connect with like-minded artists and creatives at our Discord server: https://discord.gg/mHa8GSQqsv

Credits:

Podcast art by: Robyn Lester

Theme music by: Michelle Monette

Podcast editing by: Michelle Monette