Here we go again with an earworm. (Not the pale-green-fat-mushy thing that makes you go, “Ew,” while shucking corn.) Some call it a brainworm. It’s that bit of a song or tune or phrase that gets stuck in your head for days. Recently I’ve been hung on the line, “Who are you?” followed by a string of 4 “Who’s,” from The Who’s Who Are You. (Could there be a more convoluted sentence?) Anyway, on to the point.
I’ve been writing lately – blogging. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. A really long time. “Writer” is one of very few words I gladly choose to hang on my identity clothesline. Yet, I’ve never felt like I could legitimately claim it. Isn’t it a bit like giving yourself a nickname? Are you a writer if no one reads? (If a tree falls in the woods….) What if I don’t have anything worth saying? Just who do you think you are? (In a very Southern accent – my personal earworm for decades.) These nasty little worms can be – and have been for me – immobilizing. Apparently I’m not alone.
My friend recently attended a really cool elite gathering of women in technology. I mean we’re talking the big leagues… keynote speakers included: CEO/President of IBM; Anchor and Executive Producer of Bloomberg Technology; President/COO of SpaceX; Co-Founder of Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (yes, that Zukerberg, as in married to Mr. Facebook); Anita Hill. The. Anita. Hill. Among the list of titles were: Rhodes Scholar, Founder, President, CEO, COO, Dean… So, I was absolutely shocked to read that one of the topics of conversation among these brilliant, wildly successful women was “imposter syndrome.” It’s a thing. [Here’s the definition: Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, impostorism, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud”.] Wow. Just wow. If those women, categorically and measurably accomplished, could experience self-doubt then the rest of us are doomed. Or are we?
On one of the first days in my new job in Texas – a role for which I was qualified but still felt way out of my league – I came across this quote from Richard Branson: “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” I chose to let those words inform my attitude and actions. There were still days when my old nemesis (Just who do you think you are?) would whisper in my ear but I would counter with Richard’s advice and plow through. Inadvertently, or so I thought, I had been reminded of the antidote for doubt: Replace the lie (you have nothing to offer) with the truth (you are enough). I have every suspicion that there was nothing accidental about coming across that particular quote at that particular time.
And so, last week after the first session of a new Bible study with the Monday Girls (The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst) I decided to plunge in and BE a writer. And to answer my earworm’s question about who I think I am with a resounding, “Whosoever! I am Whosoever!” [“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16]
Thanks to those who have read, and in doing so, validated my writing-tree-falling-in-the-woods. You are kind. And, best of all, yay for the dear ones who have shouted over their own earworms to reach out and say, “I’ve been thinking about blogging, too. How do you get started?” Rise up! Take courage! The worms will not win!
Helpful hint for eradication: One of my former students used to be able to get rid of musical earworms for me… he simply sang the song really, really badly. I mean excruciatingly off key, and loud to boot. Worked every time. He is now a singer-songwriter in Nashville.
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