Hi there! Iām Gael, and today I want to talk about something thatās been weighing on me lately: imposter syndrome. As a solo game developer and content creator, itās a feeling that sneaks in from time to time. I thought Iād share my experiences and how I deal with it. Maybe you can relate!
What Is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is often described as a nagging self-doubt about your skills, intellect, or accomplishments. For me, it shows up as this voice in my head saying, āYou have nothing valuable to share. Why would anyone want to listen to you or play your games?ā
This is despite the fact that Iāve been working in game development for over seven years! I still feel like a beginner with so much to learn.
What I’ve Learned
But hereās the thingāIāve learned a few ways to manage it. Let me share them with you.
1. Itās Not About Getting Everything Perfect
I donāt have everything figured out. I still have so much to learn, and guess what? Thatās completely fine! My work has value for two reasons:
- Thereās only one āme.ā
No one else has the exact same perspective, experiences, or ideas as I do. That means the games I create are unique simply because they come from me. Even if my work isnāt perfect, itās something only I could make. - Itās good for my mental health and self-growth.
Creating games is more than just a job for me; itās a way to express myself and learn about who I am. Video games are a form of art, after all! Working on my projects helps me reflect on my thoughts, feelings, and even the way I approach life.
Thereās a famous quote: āKnow thyself.ā Understanding who you are and where you come from is so important for a balanced and happy life. For me, making games is one of the best ways to do that.
2. Imposter Syndrome Will Always Be There
Hereās a hard truth: imposter syndrome probably wonāt ever completely go away. Even when thereās plenty of evidence that I donāt suck, the feeling tends to linger. Why? Because itās often tied to deeper self-confidence issues.
If, like me, youāve struggled with low self-esteem in the past, your brain might be wired to doubt your abilities. Thatās tough to change.
So, instead of trying to suppress or ignore those feelings, Iāve learned to work with themāor even use them to my advantage. For example, I made this post to channel those emotions into something productive! You can also use these feelings to:
- Write a better character for your game.
- Motivate yourself to improve your workflow.
- Explore new ideas or approaches in your projects.
What starts as something negative can become a positive force if you let it.
What About You?
Thatās how I handle imposter syndrome. What about you? How do you manage those moments of doubt? Iād love to hear your thoughtsāleave a comment and share your experience.
Want to know more about my journey as a solo indie dev? Check out my next post, where I dive deeper into what itās really like. See you there! š
Share this!