I believe imposter syndrome is common, and it can quietly keep people from beginning things they want to do. In 2021, I heard a comment that helped me understand my own experience of it.
On the podcast Sweet Boys, hosts Garrett Watts and Andrew Siwicki were discussing things they wanted to try. Andrew said, "I feel like I need to wait until I get a letter in the mail or an email that says, 'Hey, you are now able to do this certain thing.'"
The comment stayed with me because I recognized that wish for permission. Why do so many of us wait for someone else to tell us we are allowed to begin?
The uncomfortable answer is that the permission may never arrive. As Garrett put it, there is no "committee of people who are in charge of the world." Whether someone wants to try a new restaurant, listen to unfamiliar music or pursue a larger goal, there may be no official invitation.
Garrett described a related fear: whenever he achieved some success, he still imagined that someone might enter the room and say, "You're not supposed to do this." That feeling captures how imposter syndrome can make even earned opportunities seem accidental or undeserved.
Hearing people speak openly about this fear makes it less isolating. Many of us hesitate not because we lack interest or ability, but because we are waiting to feel fully qualified. Recognizing that others feel the same way does not remove every doubt. It can, however, make it easier to stop waiting for approval and take the first step.