Seeing Things Part 5
May 6, 2025
Seeing Things Part 5
They say that seeing is believing. But is that true? In this world of false images and fakery, we must be sure that what we see is believable. And that includes what we see in the mirror.
We have more confidence and inner strength when we see ourselves as credible human beings. But many of us think of ourselves as imposters, unsure of who we are. Some studies estimate that as much as 80% of all of us have experienced Imposter Syndrome at some time. The syndrome is not a clinical diagnosis but a common complaint by people in counseling and therapy. It seems as though people who suffer from the syndrome lack belief in their ability; they feel disguised in confidence and in certainty of their role but worry they will be discovered as a fraud.
What contributes to that feeling? We all have things we need to live up to. And sometimes, we wonder if we are living up to them. This may be one reason so many feel they are imposters. But there may be another reason. If our identity is fundamentally based on our ego’s false self, we are already on shaky ground. The most competent surgeon, businessperson, electrician, teacher, or governor may have feelings of being a fake IF their roles are linked only to their ego structure.
The ego is a mental structure and, therefore, is subject to all the ills that can afflict the mind. But if our roles are lived out as part and parcel of our soul, we are never at risk of feeling inauthentic. The soul is a spiritual structure and is charged by the energy of our Divine Origin.
Who we are at our depths is not up for vote or debate. Our true selves and true purpose are in our depths. In our depths there is no argument about who and what we are. It is settled. In our depths are our reasons for living, our mission, and purpose. And when our personalities and roles are one with those, there is no possibility that we will feel like imposters.
The challenge for those of us who sometimes feel like imposters is to make a solid connection to our deepest selves, our essence, our soul. From our depths, we learn we are tethered to the Divine. When we feel this connection through and through, there is a solidarity of body, mind, and heart that forbids us to consider ourselves anything less than the authentic beings we are.
Spiritual practice: If someone you know is unsure of themselves, try to help them connect their exterior life to their depths. What experience of your own are you drawing on?
Self-inquiry: Why would the ego be shaky and the soul solid?
Dear God,
You know me, and you affirm my being. I am genuinely thankful. Amen
