Here’s how I beat my imposter syndrome.
These two methods will help you get rid of it too.
You know, a lot of us have a weird way of disqualifying ourselves or deciding unanimously that we are not deserving of something good. That’s basically what imposter syndrome does.
In my experience, two main factors that fuel imposter syndrome are fear and forgetfulness.
Let me give you an example.
For context, I had almost always been commended for my writing by my high school and middle school English teachers. So during my college years, I took up freelance writing as I needed money to cater for some of my college needs. You can view my portfolio here. It also served as an avenue for me to practice and polish my writing.
I got to work for a number of international clients, including a professor from one of the top universities in Maryland, USA. I was only 20 years old and ChatGPT didn’t exist back then. It was always quite amazing to see my clients review my work and revert with positive feedback, indicating that they loved it.
However, with every new client I got, I felt inadequate, and unqualified and kept wondering if I was good enough to do the kind of work they wanted.
I later discovered that the reason why I kept feeling like this was because I kept forgetting how good my previous works were and how they pleased my clients.
How’s that possible, you may ask?
Sadly, I was always fixated on the demands of the new clients and the possibility of them rating me badly if I could not produce quality work. It was a fear.
“What if she does not like it?
“What if he gives me a 1-star rating?
“What if I am not able to finish on time?”
These were the thoughts that made me constantly think that I was a fraud and that my previous clients only loved my writing due to sheer luck. I pondered the wrong things, always focused on what could go wrong.
But after realizing this, I came up with two simple but effective ways to counter all of it.
- Revisiting my previous work: This particular practice worked miracles. Going back to your old work boosts your confidence a lot because it reminds you of some of the challenges you were able to overcome, and perhaps some of the resources that helped you. If you’re unable to remember much, it’s a blessing in disguise. Every time I revisited my previous work but failed to remember how I did what I did, I was marveled. It felt like I was reading someone else’s brilliant write-up, only that this “someone” was me. If you try this you’ll be asking yourself questions like. . .
“Did I really do this?”
“Am I this good a writer?”
“Did my work always look this professional?”
I’m here to let you know that the answers to these questions are yes, yes, and yes. Doing this helps you realize that you’ve always had that talent within you and all you have to do is let it out.
2. Focus on what could go right: If I know anything about negative thoughts and self-talk, it’s that they do exactly what they are capable of — negating every ounce of positivity and hope you have. These are the thoughts that make you feel like you’re a fraud. The truth is, it’s just you trying to scare you, hehe. Until something actually goes wrong, don’t label any thought as a “could-go-wrong”. Condition your mind to focus on the “could-go-rights”. Think thoughts like . . .
‘’What if my work pushes him to give me a tip?”
“What if she decides to reward me another gig?”
“What if they recommend me to other clients?”
You’d find out that these thoughts push you to do your best and to aim high because you know there are much bigger offers on the table. If none of that happens, at least you delivered. That alone is a massive win!
Keep in mind that it applies to any industry or activity you find yourself in. Exercise these two tips and become an unstoppable force!
Thank you so much for reading to the end.
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