We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sean Gallagher a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sean, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Throughout my life, from teachers to coaches to classmates to bosses to people I considered friends, at some point I’ve asked them for help or sought advice only to be told, “Some people have it and some people don’t.” Ouch, I thought, that stings. “How does that help?” I’d ask. They’d nod, knowingly, and prattle off long-winded answers that boiled down to: You don’t have what it takes, better to know now than down the road, right? In their minds, I assumed, they were giving me a lesson in tough love, that success only happens to those who deserve it. To me, however, I heard something different. I heard, in the immortal words of Homer Simpson, “Don’t try.”
To have someone you trust or look up to tell you essentially no matter what you do, no matter how hard you work, no matter how much instruction you seek, you’ll never achieve because you don’t have the capacity to succeed, it’s a slap to the face. For awhile, I internalized these eight words and attributed my unsuccessful career decisions and my artistic failures to my lack of inherent skill, and whenever I did achieve a modicum of success, my head filled with a voice that told me I was a phony or a fraud.
But eventually something changed and I began to ignore the terrible advice and reject the puny devil perched on my shoulder whispering its skepticism into my ear. It was like Kevin dismissing the scariness of the monster-like furnace in the basement of the McCallister house in Home Alone. I said, “Shut up.” Those eight words, they were wrong. The evidence wasn’t there. I might not have had it initially, but I was trying and getting better and becoming someone who did have it. And it was getting too difficult to doubt my abilities. Those little successes begat more success and bigger achievements.
Imposter syndrome is learned and nurtured, which means that it can be unlearned and dismissed or be used as creative fuel, proving the inner critic wrong and pushing yourself beyond whatever hindrances it puts in your way.. I eliminated the people who’d rather disparage me than lend a hand and surrounded myself with friends and loved ones who celebrate my success and comfort me through failures and want to help when asked. I also reclaimed the eight words. Yes, some people have it and some people don’t, but everyone has the chance to try and grow and improve. Life isn’t static. Abilities aren’t fixed.
It’s easy to listen to the people who dish hollow advice and give up thinking they know better. To that, I say, don’t tell me what I cannot do. Don’t tell me those who achieve success are destined for it. You think I don’t have what it takes? Watch me prove you otherwise.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I live in Charleston, South Carolina. My artwork has appeared or is forthcoming in Allegory Ridge, Passengers Journal, Liminal Spaces, Vineyard Literary, Beaver Magazine, Fauxmoir Literary Magazine, Quarter Press, and High Shelf Press. My work has also earned several awards and I’ve been highlighted as one of the lowcountry’s top emerging artists by Charleston Magazine. You can follow me on Instagram @the_ridden_word or explore my portfolio at skgcreative.com.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
There’s a lot of time to pursue a variety of career/artist endeavors and acquire the necessary skills. Every failure teaches you to do better the next time and gives you the will to take chances, to adapt, to evolve. Whatever struggle you encounter, in the long run, strengthens your resilience and hardens your resolve.
Time is the most precious resource. There are a lot of ways to distract yourself from your goals but remember, the time you waste you will never get back. Learn to budget and schedule your time as well as give yourself time to rest and recover.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Whenever I feel overwhelmed or drained, I make sure to step away from the project and give myself a restful distraction whether that’s some physical activity like working out or taking a bike ride or some passive activity like watching a movie or catching up on a show I’m watching. All these have time limits so that I can return to the project feeling rejuvenated and so that I’m not mindlessly scrolling on social media or the internet.
Contact Info:
- Website: skgcreative.com
- Instagram: the_ridden_word
Image Credits
Art by Sean Gallagher
