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Comment by ComradePhil | Hacker News Reader

I believe that the "imposter syndrome" is completely made up and there is no such thing.

Do you put up a face to present to a certain audience? If yes, you're an imposter. There is no "syndrome", "disorder" or "chemical imbalance". You feel like an imposter because you know deep down that you are being one.

Maybe you have to hype up your image to compete in the market because everyone else also does the same. That does not mean you are not an imposter. It just means everyone is.

Do you feel like an imposter when you are with your dog or your child or a very close friend or relative? If no, you don't have "imposter syndrome".

Just stop being an imposter and you will stop feeling like one. Not practical for you to do that? That's fine. Maybe you do need to put up a face to survive or thrive. Just embrace it.

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Ironically, the only comments I can think of to the points you’ve made are actual justifications for why one shouldn’t experience imposter syndrome in the first place. So, good work!

>Do you feel like an imposter when you are with your dog or your child or a very close friend or relative? If no, you don't have "imposter syndrome".

This though I think is not quite on point at least from my perspective as what I experience is only in career/work/job environments. But your point on everyone else does the same is pertinent.

> why one shouldn’t experience imposter syndrome in the first place

So you're saying that people who are imposters shouldn't feel like imposters?

What if they are told that they need to present themselves as someone different from what they actually are to get ahead? To do that, they have to try to "believe in themselves" i.e. believe the lies they tell themselves... while also knowing deep down that they are lying to themselves.

You can't hide from yourself... you can try in the short term but it will bite you back in the long run.

> I experience is only in career/work/job environments

Not quite sure what you mean... Do you mean you only experience it in career/work/job environments? Maybe because that's where you have lied to yourself and others. Re-read that part of my comment you have quoted. I think you misunderstood it.

What I'm saying is, if you don't feel the "imposter syndrome" when you are in front of your dog, you don't have "imposter syndrome". You didn't have to impress your dog by being someone else... therefore you don't feel like an imposter in front of your dog... but you do in front of your client or your boss... because you have presented a different version of yourself that you have crafted for your benefit. That version of you is not you and therefore you correctly feel like an imposter.

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