Fake it till you make it

“when you have a chance to do something you’ve been looking for but doubt if you are ready or have the right skills, first take the opportunity, than learn the skills and how to master it”.

I’m a supporter of that attitude as indeed one of the best ways to get good at something is by doing it. We’ve all been there. Not very comfortable with some software, mobile phone, or even simply driving a car or riding a bicycle. We got better as we go. It’s the “learning by doing” mode. You can’t blame anyone for not having experience at something if no one gives him the chance to experiment. Point taken.

The question here is, “fake it til you make it” sounds a bit like a fraud. That you’re not honest, not to yourself and to those around you. Maybe you can get away with it and no one notices, maybe not.

This brings the discussion to another level.

You won’t succeed faking it if what you’re faking isn’t something of your interest or ambition. Therefore, there is no fraud accepting to do it as it’s something you’d be looking for and excited about. Maybe you don’t master it or you’re still basic at it, but you’re being true to yourself. Knowing that we’ll be doing something we chase, gives us motivation, adrenaline and enthusiasm to do it well. Knowing our gaps and weaknesses we can find ways to improve or hide them until we become more fluent.

Not taking that opportunity and just assuming we’re no good and we won’t be at the optimal level, will just keep us away further from that objective, delay us from an unique chance to improve the skills and ultimately hurt our inner self by doubting if we will ever have the guts or the skills to take such challenge.

So take it till you make it shouldn’t been perceived as a tricky technique of allowing people to do something they weren’t entitled or supposed to do, but to allow people the chance to face fears and grab opportunities to decide for themselves if they want to keep chasing certain kind of passions or dreams.

This goes back to some techniques on the body/emotion relations. We tend to think emotions condition our body and body language. If we’re sad or having the blues we walk dragging our feet and looking at the ground, if we’re in a bad mood we don’t smile not having to a child, if we’re worried we’ll frown our front head, if we’re happy we’ll walking around smiling or whistling and the list goes on.

Now can the body also do the same to our mood/feelings/emotions. Can we reverse the flow and use the body to change our spirit? Yes we can. Several studies have been done in this area, some most known examples below. You just need to be a watcher of yourself, an observer, and correct the pose when it doesn’t correspond to the purpose:

• Walk like a soldier. Chest out, shoulders up, head high, decides steps. > It will give you confidence and a sense of security.
• Face a mirror and look deep into your eyes, smiling. Don’t stop just because you find it stupid. Keep doing it for a few minutes. Play with your face. > It will make you smile and relax
• Dress to impress. It’s a pretty basic thing normally associated with flirting, but as much more to give> Gives you confidence, self-esteem and a sense or importance.
• Listen to happy music. Songs that make you sing or transport you to any happy moment. > Your mind will appreciate that and your mood will change accordingly
• Dance in front of a mirror. Just do it, all alone.> This therapy is amazing, you’ll laugh at yourself and it will definitely change your day. Do this when you’re a bit down.

Those are just a few examples where using the “fake it til you make it” approach can be of good use also at personal and private level. Those are just a few examples, use same mindset to any unexpected challenges to overcome your doubts and anxieties. The trigger here is, it must be sincere. The dream, ambition, desire, vision of what you’re about to “fake” must be there in first place, otherwise you can try to fake as much as possible but the outcome will be not authentic and not sincere, thus not good at all.

When you “fake it” with sincerity or authenticity you’ll overcome it and ultimately you’ll become it.

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