Imposter Syndrome, what's that?
Your guide to overcoming self-doubt.
Hello dear friend,
For the longest time, I denied myself opportunities because I felt I wasn't good enough.
When a fellow writer asked me to be their writing coach, I told them I wasn't the right person.
When a startup founder was looking for a content marketer, I referred them to someone else because I felt I wouldn't be able to do it.
When someone asks where they can buy my books, I tell them to wait for the new one because the ones currently on sale aren't good enough.
I could go on, but you get the gist.
As a writer, when the imposter syndrome hits hard, there's very little you can do to battle it. It consumes you from within and eats up all your self-worth. It makes you question your abilities and throws doubt on your achievements.
But we are only human. How can we battle this all-consuming imposter syndrome that constantly keeps whispering in our ears that we aren't good enough?
With time, I've perfected a few steps that work for me. I'm sharing them here so you can apply them whenever you feel like an imposter.
Journal
Write your achievements down. Store all the compliments you receive in one place. Whenever you feel you aren't good enough, you can look at this collection of positive snippets and derive some hope.
Focus on what you see rather than how you feel.
You might see great results, but your heart might still tell you they're worth nothing. Learn to shut your inner voice up, especially when the results tell you otherwise.
Celebrate your successes, even the small ones.
Take joy and pride whenever you overcome an obstacle. Keep iterating to your subconscious that you're worth it and deserve all the praise and adulation coming your way.
Let go of perfectionism. Embrace authenticity.
Don't obsess over being "perfect" in everything you do. Make mistakes, learn from them, and embrace them as essential parts of your growth journey.
Say "yes" to opportunities.
Even when you're not sure how you'll make them work. You can figure out the nuances later on. For now, just say yes and forge your own path. It might not always be easy, but in the end, it will definitely be worth it.
These steps don't work every day. But I'm trying, and it's slowly getting better. There's still a long way to go, for sure.
How do you deal with imposter syndrome? Do let me know some helpful tricks and tips by replying to this email.
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That’s all from my end today. I’ll see you again soon. Till then, stay strong. Keep smiling and be awesome.
With love,
Anangsha.