In Praise of the Imposter Syndrome: "Accept yourself" is a destructive fad.

Today’s motivational gurus are hell-bent on boosting our self-esteem: “We’re okay just as we are.”  “We are worthy just by virtue of being human.” “There’s genius in all of us!” Hah! 

Thinking you’re great is a fast way to ensure you stagnate, probably in mediocrity…or worse—There’s no need to work on growing if you already think you’re fine.

A common manifestation of low self-esteem is the Imposter Syndrome: You have a degree that says you’re a qualified professional but you feel you aren’t one. That’s often an accurate assessment because school-based training, often longer on theory and arcana than on practice and essentials, can easily leave you less than real-world competent. That’s why, for example, many law firms provide extensive post-law-school training for their newly hired lawyers.

The answer to the imposter syndrome is not to dismiss it. My PsychologyToday.com article today tells what to do instead.