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Faking It
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2016/10 - October
When I taught school I gave a lesson on faking it early in my freshman curriculum. I explained to students that many of us are born with a high B.S.Q. (B.S. Quotient, a gift for making it up as we go). Truth is, none of us really know what we are doing, but some of us are better actors, that’s all.
For those who struggle with B.S.-ing, there’s a simple faking-it system. It focuses on convincing parents, schoolmates, friends, colleagues, and bosses you know exactly what you are doing, when, in fact, your life is a dump truck full of duh.
Start by plastering a big grin on your face. When you lift your chin and fake a smile, your posture and body language will follow. It’s magic. I used to sing “I Have Confidence” from “The Sound of Music” when I had a tough challenge in college. I’d smile and it’d crank me up every time. BTW, there’s a list of 50 songs that boost your self-confidence online. Google it.
There are other things you can do that psychologically trick yourself into feeling more confident. Studies show the following really work:
Dress smart and look the part.
Pretend you know; it will make it so.
Fake it ‘til you make it.
Act “as if”; it’ll make the diff.
Instead of roles, shift thoughts to goals. Goal-oriented people fare better in the world than those who define themselves by their roles.
For more insight into faking it, Google fake-it-til-you-make-it strategies.
Don’t tell anyone this, but I still have a hard time saying, “I am a professional writer.” I know it’s what I want to be when I grow up, however. Thank goodness I have a B.S. on my college diploma.
