In a blog by Steve Backlund he says …… Imposter syndrome is a psychological occurrence in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent, internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.
One of the things my wife, Wendy, often shares is this: “You can only receive what you believe you are worth.” Whether it’s finances, favor, or power, once we get blessed beyond what we believe we are worth, we tend to self-sabotage our lives back down to the level at which we believe we deserve to be.
I have certainly experienced this in my own life. When I’ve gone to a higher level, it has put pressure on the strongholds in me that want to limit me and tell me I am not worthy or capable. The “accuser of the brethren” (the devil) works with those strongholds and often uses negative comparison to focus on what we’re not rather than what we are.
Sports teams that are elevated to a higher league usually lose more games than they have in the past, and they have their weaknesses exposed in greater ways. They battle self-doubt and feelings of being a failure in greater ways. They are tempted to go back to a level of competition where they are not failing. I, too, am often tempted to go back to a level of life where I feel like I am not losing and where people won’t expect much from me, but God keeps calling us higher.
We are empowered by our Heavenly Father to increase our talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and go higher. “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). God is calling us upward into new things, new opportunities, new favor, greater power, and catalytic joy. As we get called into these higher levels, we will feel the pressure to stay in a place where we are comfortable and not feeling like a fraud.
As we all battle this feeling of imposter syndrome on some level, here are some key truths to remember:
- We are worth what was paid for us by Jesus on the cross.
- Success is not a goal to obtain, but it is a state of being.
- Success comes from good identity beliefs and practice, practice, practice.
- Whoever you are meant to have favor with, you will have favor with.
“But Steve, what about self-promoting, egotistical people who truly are not ready for greater resources and greater favor?”
I believe that is not the case for most people reading this, but here are signs we are not yet ready for the greater things:
- We have not been faithful in small things.
- We are not humble and teachable, but instead feel entitled.
- We treat people poorly.
- We need a higher place to validate us as a success.
- We have been chronically frustrated and joyless at the level we are at.
- We have cheated to get into a position. (It is difficult to feel good about ourselves if we are battling legitimate guilt.)
With that said, I believe I am writing to people who have sincere hearts to make a massive difference in the world but need to recognize and defeat the imposter syndrome. You might think, “but it is selfish to want to succeed and thrive”. I used to believe this. I remember feeling that way when I first started writing books. Then God said to me, “Steve, it’s selfish of you to not write books. People need what you have.”
It is the same for you – people need what you have. You are meant to thrive and God has called you to greater and higher things. When you feel your strongholds telling you, “You are an imposter and not worthy of this”, get excited. This is an opportunity to slay a giant that all of us are empowered to defeat.