Thread by @subomiplumptre

This is my pool. Someone had the "smart" idea to make the shallow end 5' 5". For comparison, I'm 5' 10". So, after two steps, my head goes under water. The pool is obviously not for children. 🧵

The problem with the depth is that until recently, I was terrified of water. And with this pool, I can't get tired halfway and stand up. I must make it to either end or side to reach safety.

I learnt to swim to survive. I love traveling and for island destinations, I needed to know my way around water. I swam to enhance my travel experience and to not die on vacation. This year, I finally chose to face my trepidation around water.

It turned out I simply needed more practice and skill. I hired a coach and since I learn by process, having him explain the physics behind techniques was helpful. I also dislike learning under pressure. I want to take my time. So I booked more than the typical amount of lessons.

The experience taught me about Imposter Syndrome. Sometimes, the reason you're secretly not confident about what you know, is because you barely know what you know.

You need more skills and you need to practice until the role fits you like a second skin. Even if you are woken up in the middle of the night, you can perform.

Find your self-confidence through expertise and practice. Stop performing under pressure. Avoid giving yourself unrealistic goals. You are not in a competition. Breathe, learn, practice. That's what you need.

#Mastery #ImpostorSyndrome