Look. Imposters can’t have imposter syndrome.
The syndrome is thusly named because people who are not imposters feel like they are imposters. By nature, people who care about doing their best will worry they’re not doing “good” enough.
Imposters don’t worry about being good enough.
Stop arguing with imposter syndrome by saying, “no, look at all these amazing things you’ve done” and start disagreeing with your brain when it says you don’t belong here.
Your brain lies to you all the time.
“I can get on Facebook really quick.”
“That person is mad at me.”
“No one else is struggling this bad.”
Stop agreeing with it. I’m sorry not to pull the punch on this one, but when we agree with our brain and it’s not being truthful, all we’re doing is deepening the pathway. We can’t solve thinking problems with more thinking.
When your brain tells you that you clearly don’t belong in this industry, hear my voice, my friend. The fact that you worry if you belong tells me that you belong.
And… news flash… no one feels more like an imposter than successful people. Because they are so conscious of just how much more success is “above” them. No one mistrusts their talent more than talented people.
Ask me how I know.
(And before you argue with me, remember… “not all people are the same” is the literal motto of my company. I know not everyone is like this. And no, “not feeling like an imposter” doesn’t make you one. But I have to speak directly to the people who are feeling like imposters because it’s driving me crazy that we give our brains this much power over our emotions.)
It’s possible to just say, “thanks, brain, for caring that we’re doing a good job… but having imposter syndrome means I care that I’m doing a good job.” When that pattern was formed, it explained something to you that solved a problem you had, and your brain just kept repeating it, even though it is a lie. You did not know it was a lie.
Now you know it’s a lie.
Imposters cannot have imposter syndrome. If you believe you are an imposter, put your hand on your heart and take three deep breaths. Remind yourself that you do hard things all the time, and imposter syndrome is a great sign. It means you care about being good at this job.
It’s a bigger indicator of success than failure.
You. Can. Do. This.
Becca