Are you really an artist?

I’ve often found that the strongest people in any area tend to have a bit of imposter syndrome, as it keeps them constantly pushing to improve.

Related, I’ve heard it said about those that ask questions such as “am I a good mother?” — if you care enough to ask, you almost certainly are.

In his book “The War of Art“, Steven Pressfield took a similar approach when talking about writers and artists, saying:

If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), “Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?” chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.

Constantly being “scared to death” isn’t a good way to live, but leaving a bit of doubt about your skills will always push you to be better. I always try to look up to those that are smarter than me, as it both helps improve my skills (by learning from them) as well as keep me humble and striving for more.