Are You An Imposter?
Have you ever had an idea? Like a REALLY good idea that you never did anything with because you were convinced no one would care about it, buy it, read it or enjoy it?
I felt this way BIG TIME when I first dreamt about writing I Got Tired of Feeling Like Sh*t
Who wants to hear from a random insurance agent from Texas about their hamster wheel relationship with alcohol? It’s like my ego was a fragile egg, scared of being broken.
Do these thoughts keep you stuck? Can anyone relate?
You might have a mild, or even massive case of Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is a common experience where people doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of their competence. This incredible phenomenon can undermine confidence and hinder personal and professional growth.
But there is hope!
Here are some interesting strategies to overcome feeling like an imposter.
1. Acknowledge your achievements - Reflect on your successes and the skills that helped you attain them. Recognizing your capabilities can boost confidence. We are always our own worst critic. Realizing this and calling it what it is will help you get over that initial fear.
2. Talk about it - Share your feelings with trusted friends, mentors, or a therapist. You'll often find others have experienced similar doubts and can offer valuable perspective and support. I belong to a Bible Study called Fight Club - we meet every Friday and this is an incredible group of men. We come together to pray, celebrate, encourage and hold accountable. This group has helped probably more than they know to encourage me to take action.
3. Challenge negative thoughts - Whenever feelings of inadequacy arise, challenge them with evidence of your competence and accomplishments. It helps me to look back on notes, progress and remind myself how far I’ve come. In my gym, CrossFit 737, our owner often says “Say something POSITIVE to yourself, because we’re too hard on ourselves.” Great advice from one of the greats!
4. Set realistic goals - Break down big tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and celebrate each accomplishment along the way. This has been key for me. I’ve always been a BIG Picture kind of guy, but my follow up, especially when things get hard, doesn’t always line up with my dreams. Breaking tasks into chunks with celebrations for accomplishments, have helped in a major way.
5. Just Start - Jon Acuff wrote an incredible book called Start - where he encourages his readers to stop thinking so much and start the project. The old saying “Paralysis by Analysis” comes to mind here. We often get so caught up in our own heads that we talk ourselves out of doing anything. It’s such a strange conundrum. By starting, and realizing that your work does NOT have to be perfect (don’t mistake that from striving to do excellent work), you can break the paralysis and really begin to create.
Remember these strategies when you get stuck, and trust that someone, maybe an entire group of someone’s will benefit greatly from your expertise and craft.
Start today and effectively combat Imposter Syndrome and cultivate a greater sense of self-confidence and fulfillment in life.
