What if it’s not imposter syndrome?What if you’re just not any good?Keri SavocaBlockedUnblockFollowFollowingMar 23I’ve written about imposter syndrome before, but never like this.
Imposter syndrome is that nagging feeling that you don’t deserve the success that you’ve earned.
You’re a fraud.
Soon, everyone will find out how unqualified you are.
You didn’t earn that job; it was given to you by accident.
You didn’t earn that 4.
0; your professors were just being lenient.
You’re not a good writer; that viral article was an accident.
You don’t really know how to be a software engineer; you’re relying too much on libraries and frameworks.
Copy, paste.
Copy, paste.
The problem with imposter syndrome is that no matter how much we accomplish, we sometimes lose the ability to reason with ourselves.
First, understand that there are 4 stages of learning.
I’m excited to learn!.I’m going to be the best at this.
OMG.
This is hard.
But hey, I’ll try my best.
I suck at this.
I don’t think I’ll ever get any better.
Oh, wait.
I think I got it.
After stage 4, we get reinvigorated, and the cycle repeats.
But when we suffer from imposter syndrome, we get stuck at stage 3.
This is when we begin to ask ourselves…What if I’m just not any good?Try to reason with yourself.
What exactly have you accomplished?.Put it into words.
Quantify it if you can.
Give credit where credit is due.
If you have accomplished something, you must be at least somewhat good at what you’re doing.
Has anyone else praised your work or trusted your expertise?.Think about the times someone has commented on your articles, or the times someone has come to you for advice.
If someone else has given you credit, you must be pretty good at what you’re doing.
Do you know more now than you knew a year ago?.This means you have grown.
You are better at what you’re doing now than you were a year ago.
This should tell you something.
Do you ask a lot of questions?.Do you feel like you improve when you find the answers?.Experts ask questions.
Experts keep learning.
Imposters do not.
Did you make a mistake?.Have you hit a rough patch?.It’s normal.
Experts hit rough patches.
The best writers occasionally have flops.
The best doctors consult with their colleagues when they’re unsure.
The best programmers have other programmers check their work.
Experts make mistakes.
Experts are able to admit when they’re not sure.
Experts are comfortable saying, “I don’t know!”.
Imposters are not.
Remember that imposter syndrome often strikes immediately after we achieve success.
In some ways, it’s a defense mechanism.
Sure, it’s easier to play it safe and to stay in that entry-level role.
It’s easier to quit writing or to quit programming.
You got into med school?.Eh, it’s easier to do something else, right?No, not right.
We need to understand that this instinct is a natural reaction to the unknown.
Imposter syndrome is all about fear.
It strikes when we start a new job, or when we succeed quickly or unexpectedly.
It strikes when we finish a challenging project.
It strikes the moment someone else recognizes our work.
We are not comfortable praising ourselves or giving ourselves credit for a job well done.
But is this rational?.If someone else had accomplished the same thing that you just accomplished, what would you think of them?Furthermore… have you ever considered someone else a total fraud?.It’s unlikely that anyone has looked at you that way, either.
Can’t convince yourself that you deserve what you’ve rightfully earned?. More details