COLUMNS
By Mike Schwartz
Eliminate Impostor Syndrome One Solid Way to High-Kick Your Inner Critic to the Curb
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You can ’ t release that track . It ’ s just not good enough . You ’ re not going to book any shows just yet . You ’ re just not ready .” You sing at your friend ’ s wedding , everyone loves it and they come up and tell you how great you are and you react with “ Oh , no ... I missed three notes in the second chorus . I could ’ ve been better .” Does this sound like you ?
What if there was a way to feel like a rockstar both on and off the stage ? This is what many of us do for a living , yet it ’ s super common to hear how small and inadequate we all feel . Is there a way to get out of that cycle ? Heck yes there is , and to start to answer that we got to look inside .
What is imposter syndrome ? We ’ ve all been there , right ? Voice cracks on the chorus , we play a wrong note in the solo , we drop sticks on the count in … no one even notices . They say “ you were great !” But you know . Why are they lying to you ?
That evil inner voice gets up and whispers not-so-sweet-nothings in your ear . You start questioning everything . Why would people pay to see such a hack ? Why are you even playing music ? Imposter syndrome is this irrational fear of not being good enough and it ’ s running rampant amongst us artists as we all slowly wake from this lockdown slumber .
But who cares ? A continual feeling of inadequacy can lead to more serious mental health illnesses , such as depression and anxiety . You may quit the band or you may even quit music altogether , like I did in 2013 ( I ’ ve since returned , better than ever after having addressed my mental illness and many more behavioural phenomena ). Most likely if you fail to address it , you ’ ll feel stuck , sad , and resentful when you think about music ; the thing that once filled your heart with joy . Don ’ t you put that evil on you !
I changed my life forever and now I pay it forward by creating rockstars with The Music Fit Method . The number one thing artists come to me for is their feeling of inadequacy and their lack of confidence . Ironically , the more fame and notoriety an individual has , the more inadequate they feel . This imposter syndrome often stems from deep , family traumas that I help them heal through the magic of language . Regarding imposter syndrome , one piece of conflict language known as “ soft talk ” plays a vital role and it ’ s tricky as all heck because it ’ s so ingrained in western , English-speaking culture .
You ’ re 10-ply , bud . Say this out loud : “ I think I ’ ll try to make it to the show maybe around nine-ish or something .”
How do you feel when you read that back ? What sensations come up in your body ? On the Spinal Tap scale of 1-11 , how intense is that feeling ? For many people , it ’ s a feeling of uncertainty , doubt , mistrust , etc . Super soft , right ? Like 10-ply toilet paper . And it all stems from words such as kinda , maybe , sorta , ish , like , think , and perhaps . Now , try this : “ I ’ ll be there by 9:07 p . m . tonight .” Anything changed ?
How many times have you heard something like that first line from a friend you invite to a show ? Is that friend likely to make it ? Heck no . They soften it up so as not to hurt your feelings . I mean , they ’ ve got good intentions , but they ’ ve actually created a scenario of mistrust and confusion . The second , “ solid ” translation affirms trust and confidence that they ’ re going to be there .
What if the way we do one thing is the way we do many ? If your language is indecisive and lacking confidence , what could that mean about your self-worth ?
If you ’ re using soft talk in your day-to-day , imagine what repeating this language for years has done to your subconscious mind . Is it any wonder you doubt your ability ? You spent 10 , 15 , 20-some years ingraining it into permanence . Your words create a story . That story creates your reality .
Here ’ s the cool thing . Language is learned , right ? Anything you learn , you can unlearn . Here ’ s how to unlearn soft talk and solidify your life with more of what you want and high kick that imposter to the curb once and for all !
Slow down & breathe ! Slow down when you are speaking . We often use soft language as a placeholder when we ’ re on autopilot . Dial your rate of speech back 30 % and watch what happens when you give yourself time to think before you speak . Once you start slowing down , you ’ ll catch yourself using the “ maybes , kindas , and ishes ” on the regular . Slow down and eliminate those soft words . You ’ ll build your own confidence subconsciously . When you do that , you ’ ll also build the confidence others have in you by simply being intentional and decisive with your words . Leave the 10-ply in the washroom , bud . It ’ s crap .
Mike Schwartz is an artist-first Fitness Professional and the creator of The Music Fit Method . If you want to learn more about The Music Fit Method and radically change your life forever , reach out and book a complementary Focus session . Head to www . musicfitcollective . com .
62 CANADIAN MUSICIAN