Do you never feel “good enough?”
Do you feel like, no matter how hard you try, no matter how much you do, you’re still falling short?
Does it seem as if everyone around you somehow has more talent, more luck, and is more deserving than you are?
That’s called, “Impostor Syndrome,” and it can destroy our lives.
WHAT IS IMPOSTOR SYNDROME?
Put very simply, it’s the persistent feeling that we’re a fraud, even when the evidence in our life says otherwise.
Self-doubt becomes a constant companion and we dismiss our achievements as, “a fluke,” or, “just good timing.” Even worse, there’s a chronic fear that someday we’ll be found out, that everyone else will realize that we’ve just been bullshitting our way through life and we don’t have any real substance.
It’s quite common among people who grew up in abusive households because that’s one of the primary messages that they got as kids: “you’re not good enough.” No matter what you do, you’re still not good enough.
It’s especially common among creatives, leaders, and anyone who’s stepping into a new role in life. Exactly the people who are already stretching themselves into growth and success.
THE KING ON A SHAKY THRONE
In the Tarot, the King of Wands represents the exact opposite of impostor syndrome. He radiates confident leadership. He’s the charismatic leader who can stand firmly in his own power and inspire the people around him.
But reversed? His fire dims and he hesitates. His self-belief falters and instead of leading with boldness he spirals into self-doubt.
That’s where Impostor Syndrome rears its ugly head:
Self-doubt in leadership.
Fear of being, “Found Out’ and huge anxiety that others will see through the facade.
Inconsistent Confidence and swinging between moments of brilliance and moments of total collapse.
Avoidance of responsibility and shrinking back from visibility and opportunity.
Overcompensation and burnout where we work WAY too hard to prove our worth until exhaustion sets in.
The King of Wands reversed is the perfect representation of Impostor Syndrome at work.
HOW TO OVERCOME IT
There’s an old joke that says that if you feel the need to ask your therapist if you’re a narcissist, you’re not one. The same thing applies to Impostor Syndrome. If you’re constantly full of self-doubt, you probably shouldn’t be.
The gift of the Tarot is that no card is fixed. The King of Wands can always be turned upright again and so can our confidence. Here are a few simple practices that can reverse Impostor Syndrome:
1 – Keep a, “proof journal.” Write down ALL of our wins, big and small, to create a counter-narrative to the voice that’s telling us that we’re, “not good enough.” And if that feels uncomfortable, it’s just proof that we really need to do it.
2 – Normalize mistakes. People with Impostor Syndrome don’t just regret it when they screw up – they beat themselves into a bloody pulp over it. Every artist, every writer, every visionary stumbles. That’s part of the growth curve. As Julia Cameron said, “In order to become a good artist, you have to first give yourself permission to be a bad artist.”
3 – Talk it out. When we share our doubts with a trusted friend or therapist we get the realistic feedback we need. When we tell someone we love that we feel like a total fuck-up they will frequently be amazed and even appalled that we could perceive ourselves that way. Basically, that’s just, “borrowing someone else’s eyes” and they may see our brilliance and talent far more clearly than we can.
THE ONLY IMPOSTOR IS OUR SELF-DOUBT
The King of Wands reversed reminds us that Impostor Syndrome isn’t the truth. It’s a distortion, an illusion that doesn’t need to define our reality.
Turn the card upright and loosen the chains of self-criticism. Step into the fiery confidence that we should have and that we deserve.
We’ve already earned our places at the table. Now own it.
Just the Tarot 