Be Audacious, Gifted, and Bold
After being put down a lot, is Audaciousness a solution for Imposter Syndrome?
Image is a character from my upcoming fantasy novel series, The Elyndris Chronicles.
Giftedness is defined by r/Gifted, a community on reddit, as "a neurodivergence that consists mainly of high mental capacity, which can then be expressed in many complex ways."
However, many Gifted individuals express feeling a sense of Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, a psychological occurrence in which people doubt their skills, talents, or accomplishments and have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as frauds. Despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon do not believe they deserve their success or luck.
Why is this? I have spoken to many gifted individuals, autistic savant individuals, and individuals of high intellect, and they seem to have common stories of adversity in the face of intellect. People have been honest at times and told them, “You are smart.” However, much of the time, people have put them down.
Imagine if you had a gifted child, best friend, relative, or loved one. Ideally, you’d let them know how brilliant they are because you care for them. That you’d want them to pursue their passions, and have a bright future.
Yet much of the time, this is not what many gifted individuals have experienced. They experience a feeling of being estranged from other individuals, and this can affect their bright futures.
On a wider scale, across the world, this is an issue that affects all of us. Our most brilliant builders, thinkers, innovators, and creators are inclined to feel that they do not get along with the rest of us, or that they are actually not as competent as they are.
Meanwhile, individuals with the Dunning-Kruger effect, people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities. Often they may convince people with their audacious charisma to put them in positions of management and leadership, which they perform with mediocrity.
This must change, and I suggest a potential solution, although it is not so simple, and not an ultimate, absolutist solution, since every individual’s experience varies.
In the Freebird Games' video game "To The Moon" a character by the name of Isabelle, who navigates the world through the unique lens of autism, presents a novel approach that proved beneficial for her: she embarked on a journey of mastering the art of acting and the nuances of body language.
After studying acting and the nuances of body language, I would go so far as to say that a gifted individual should perform audaciously. Be proud, be bold, study comedy, and be the class clown. Unite others, and reach out to those who are lonely. Be cautious, and do not walk into every trap that life sets.
As uncertain as a gifted individual may feel, and they may get ongoing help, support, and therapy for Imposter Syndrome, life goes on. Those with great competence have a great responsibility to help the world, even if the world sometimes hurts. Remember that it hurts all of us, across all walks of life, and be the change that you want to see. Be better, raise your head, and be audacious.
What do you think? Do you agree, or do you disagree? Do you have another solution from a point of expertise, such as in mental health, education, or psychology? Let me know in the comments, or the post on reddit.