motivatherImposter syndrome is a feeling of not being good enough, despite evidence of accomplishments and talent. This low self-confidence can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress. You may also find yourself putting off tasks or avoiding work altogether because you think that it’s impossible for you to do well at something. While it’s normal to feel this way sometimes—especially if you’re new at a job or working with people who are more experienced than you—it’s important that you learn how to combat the imposter syndrome so that it doesn’t become an ongoing problem in your life.
Get a handle on your perfectionism.
Perfectionism is a way of thinking that causes you to set unrealistic expectations for yourself. It can lead to procrastination, fear of failure, and low self-esteem. Perfectionists often believe they must achieve perfection in order to be worthy or successful while striving for excellence means working hard at something with the goal of doing your best.
Perfectionist thinking includes:
- “I have to do this perfectly.”
- “If I make any mistakes, it’s all over.”
- “I’ll never get it right so why bother trying?”
Give yourself permission to make mistakes.
The first step to combating imposter syndrome is to give yourself permission to make mistakes. Don’t be afraid of looking like an idiot, or asking for help when you need it, or asking questions that might seem dumb. It’s okay! Everyone makes mistakes–even your favorite celebrities and athletes do it all the time (they just don’t show it).
You’ll feel much more comfortable in your work if you know that everyone else makes mistakes too, so don’t be afraid of being honest with yourself about what went wrong when something goes wrong.
Identify the negative thoughts that lead to imposter syndrome.
Write down these thoughts, and identify their source. Is it your own self-talk? Are they things that others have said to you? Or is it just a general feeling that something isn’t right?
Challenge these thoughts by looking at the evidence for and against them, using critical thinking skills like deductive reasoning and scientific inquiry
Finally, take action to address the source of your negative thoughts. If they’re self-talk, challenge those thoughts and replace them with more positive ones. If it’s something someone else said that’s bothering you, try talking to that person about it and getting their perspective on the situation.
Ask for help when you need it.
Asking for help can be difficult, but it’s the best way to combat imposter syndrome. Asking someone who knows more about your field than you do will make them feel good about themselves and give them an opportunity to share their knowledge with others.
Similarly, asking someone who has done what you want to do gives them an opportunity to provide advice or guidance on how they managed their career path. If they’ve had similar experiences as yours (e.g., working at a startup), then they can share lessons learned from those experiences that might apply to your case as well!
If you have feelings of self-doubt, ask for help, acknowledge your accomplishments, and invest in self-care
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re struggling with self-doubt and imposter syndrome, reaching out can make all the difference. Ask someone in your life who knows what they’re doing–a mentor or expert–to review your work before publishing it or presenting it at a conference. If there’s something specific that is causing anxiety, talk with someone who understands the issue and has experience helping others through similar situations. This kind of support will help build confidence in your abilities and remind you that others have been in similar shoes before; they know what it’s like!
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes: Perfectionism may cause us not only y feel like imposters but also to hold ourselves back from taking risks because we don’t want anything less than perfect results (which doesn’t exist). Instead of aiming for perfectionism try aiming for excellence instead; this way if something goes wrong along the way there will still be room for growth rather than failure which isn’t always bad either since sometimes failure leads us down paths we wouldn’t have otherwise taken without those setbacks alongside them!
Imposter syndrome is a common problem, but it’s not something we have to live with. By taking steps like learning about imposter syndrome and practicing positive self-talk, you can start overcoming these feelings and moving forward with confidence.
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