{"id":19780,"date":"2018-10-25T22:01:57","date_gmt":"2018-10-26T05:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=19780"},"modified":"2018-10-25T22:03:27","modified_gmt":"2018-10-26T05:03:27","slug":"i-am-a-critical-imposter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/i-am-a-critical-imposter\/","title":{"rendered":"I am a critical imposter."},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve struggled a lot with imposter syndrome. Imposter Syndrome, or imposter phenomenon, is generally defined as a very real and specific form of self-doubt.[1]<\/a> My personal favorite definition is that it\u2019s a \u201chotmess of harmfulness.\u201d[2]<\/a> In fact, if I\u2019m being completely honest, I\u2019ve felt it a lot in the last 8 weeks. As an Enneagram 3, I realize I am also prone to Imposter Syndrome. Christopher Huertz shockingly told me once, \u201cWhen heart people allow comparison to lead to feelings of disconnections, they blame themselves and can be overcome with profound experiences of shame.\u201d[3]<\/a> I feel like I\u2019m not quite measuring up, which brings a deeper sense of shame that I might not ever match up to those around me. And here\u2019s the reality in my current life: I have felt it more this week than I have in quite a few months. As I\u2019m typing this, my motivation in sharing this isn\u2019t to garner empathy, but to give myself grace. Grace to speak, and write, as Harry Edwards reminded us last week[4]<\/a>, from a place of authenticity and understanding.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It would be easiest for me to tell you that there were some nuggets in this book that I thought were helpful, and write a creative post on one of those nuggets. That would be true. But the more authentic thing to tell you is that I really didn\u2019t like this book. As a doctoral student, I realize it\u2019s my responsibility to tell you why. I also realize the irony in critically evaluating a book on critical thinking. Cue the imposter syndrome. But let me attempt to do my critique justice in the way that I can, from a place of authenticity and understanding.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

First, I need to acknowledge that this is a miniature guide. My assumption when first looking through the book is that it had to be part of a larger framework of something else, which it is. This mini guide is produced by the Center for Critical Thinking and Moral Critique and the Foundation for Critical Thinking. Those two organizations are really looking to change structures in education and society by cultivating fairminded and critical thinking.[5]<\/a> I could tell it was part of a larger framework because at times, the flow between the chapters seemed to be missing portions of connecting material. For instance, I struggled in the progression of ideas from the stages of Critical Thinking Development to the immediate discussion of \u201cproblem\u201d thinking areas. While I resonate with the understandings and the challenges posed by egocentric and sociocentric thinking, I felt as though there was no development from teaching on how to develop critical thinking to just immediately point out the problems with those who don\u2019t. Furthermore, neither egocentric nor sociocentric thinking isn\u2019t mentioned until the very last few chapters. To not develop the negative aspects or lack of critical thinking until the very end, was challenging for me, especially when things like the elements of critical thinking (purposes, questions, points of view, etc) were placed throughout.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next, I am still wrestling through some ideological frameworks that were presented in the chapters on egocentric and sociocentric thinking. When I insert my own theological convictions into the picture, I am not entirely convinced by the definitive statements made by the authors. I realize I do need to take into account my own personal points of view, as well as the data that I have accumulated throughout my experiences. These have led to my own reasoning and interpretations of my personal lenses. As I read through their problems of egocentric thinking, I felt like a lot their psychological statements[7]<\/a> were undergirded by an system based on power and privilege. It is a privilege to believe things like, \u201cIt\u2019s true because I believe it\u201d[8]<\/a> or \u201cIt\u2019s true because it\u2019s in my self interest to believe it\u201d.[9]<\/a> While I realize that in the West, we currently live in a sociological framework that centers on privilege and power, I believe that we can learn to lay down those power structures and think differently. Most individuals are trapped by their power systems until they are pointed out to them.[10]<\/a> I do believe the authors delve into this when they envision critical societies, but the only way critical societies can emerge[11]<\/a> is when power structures can be seen for what they are.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the terminology of the Foundation for Critical Thinking, critical thinking requires depth in understanding core virtues, like intellectual humility, perseverance, integrity, and responsibility.[12]<\/a> I have to acknowledge that I genuinely missed the added value of faith in the conversation. As the authors really took a deep dive into what they determined to be essential in the development of a critical society[13]<\/a>, I missed the presence of Jesus. I missed the way Jesus spoke into the forming of culture and society, by saying things like, \u201cSo those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.\u201d[14]<\/a> I realize that this book is not written from a Christian perspective, and that the Foundation for Critical Thinking makes no evangelical claims either. However, I was reminded through the absence of faith in this book that there is deep power in the mystery of faith too. There is something in faith that is so unquantifiable, that it cannot be critically understood. In fact, Eugene Peterson reminds us that \u201cWhat no one ever saw or heard, what no one ever thought could happen, is the very thing God prepared for those who love him.\u201d[15]<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While I don\u2019t totally feel quite qualified to critique, and maybe my reasoning isn\u2019t as critical as it could be, the book just didn\u2019t sit well with me. There\u2019s grace and understanding for me in that space, which I have wrestled with, but can accept. Thanks be to God.<\/p>\n

——-<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Kristin Weir, \u201cFeel Like a Fraud?\u201d American Psychological Association, published November 2013, https:\/\/www.apa.org\/gradpsych\/2013\/11\/fraud.aspx<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Melody Wilding, \u201cThe 5 Types of Imposter Syndrome and How to Beat Them\u201d, Fast Company, May 18, 2017, https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/40421352\/the-five-types-of-impostor-syndrome-and-how-to-beat-them<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a>\u00a0 Christopher L. Heuertz, The Sacred Enneagram<\/em> (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2017), 96<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Harry Edwards, \u201cAha and Eureka Moments,\u201d DMINLGP, October 18, 2018, https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/aha-and-eureka-moments\/<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> \u201cOur Mission,\u201d The Foundation for Critical Thinking, accessed October 26, 2018, http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/pages\/our-mission\/405<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools,<\/em> (Dillion Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2009), Loc. 259, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools,<\/em> (Dillion Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2009), Loc. 260, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools,<\/em> (Dillion Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2009), Loc. 260, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools,<\/em> (Dillion Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2009), Loc. 273, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> Jeremy Goldbach,\u201dDiversity Toolkit: A Guide to Discussing Identity, Power, and Privilege,\u201d University of Southern California, October 25, 2017, https:\/\/msw.usc.edu\/mswusc-blog\/diversity-workshop-guide-to-discussing-identity-power-and-privilege\/<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools,<\/em> (Dillion Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2009), Loc. 292, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> \u201cOur Mission,\u201d The Foundation for Critical Thinking, accessed October 26, 2018, http:\/\/www.criticalthinking.org\/pages\/our-mission\/405<\/p>\n

[13]<\/a> Richard Paul and Linda Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools,<\/em> (Dillion Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2009), Loc. 292, Kindle.<\/p>\n

[14]<\/a> Matt 20:16 (Good News Translation)<\/p>\n

[15]<\/a> 1 Cor. 2:9 (Good News Translation)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve struggled a lot with imposter syndrome. Imposter Syndrome, or imposter phenomenon, is generally defined as a very real and specific form of self-doubt.[1] My personal favorite definition is that it\u2019s a \u201chotmess of harmfulness.\u201d[2] In fact, if I\u2019m being completely honest, I\u2019ve felt it a lot in the last 8 weeks. As an Enneagram […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[290,1383],"class_list":["post-19780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-elder","tag-imposter-syndrome","cohort-lgp9"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/121"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19780"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19781,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19780\/revisions\/19781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}