Navigating the Impostor Syndrome. Do What Matters.

Steps to nip out self doubt in the bud

Despite all the accolades on your desk and praises that echoed in the hallways, did you ever get the gnawing feeling deep inside you?

Have you ever heard of this below whispering inside you — Do they really think you deserve all this ? What if they find out you are not good as they think?

This unsettling feeling, it turns out, is widespread is called imposter syndrome, a shadow that often lurks behind many accomplished individuals.

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I pondered over it and revisited my personal experience of dwelling in this feeling, a feeling which usually cannot be shared with others.

It usually begins with we looking up to someone or some role.

Something like — The last person who had my job knew it inside and out, had years of experience, and was really good at it. Now, here I am, new to the role and feeling like it’s way bigger than anything I’ve done before. And to top it off, this is my first time being a manager.

However, as you begin to navigate through your responsibilities, achieving small wins and milestones along the way, something remarkable happens. Your confidence starts to grow, and that initial feeling of inadequacy gradually fades away.

But here I have a critical question to my readers :

Fake it till you make it — Does it really work that way?

While it may offer a temporary confidence boost, it often leads to a deep-rooted sense of inadequacy. Probably, your self doubt has been arising because you have been faking it to some extent?

One might fake at an interview; manage the first few days, but reality slowly dawns upon you one day irrespective of getting caught at workplace or not.

Living an authentic life is the cornerstone of genuine self-confidence.

Be it at your workplace, be it with your prospective life partner or be it with your future boss at the interview, my mantra would always be

Don’t fake it, face it.

Tackle challenges head-on and allow yourself to grow organically.

Being genuine may not always lead to instant success, but it will save you from the lifelong burden of self-doubt and the fear of being exposed as a fraud

Take note, dear reader, embracing authenticity should never deter you from tackling new challenges. Be eager to step out of your comfort zone, to take up new challenges. Always be up for one !

Every living being on this planet tries to reach its fullest potential. Every tree grows as tall as it can. Every human being needs to explore their fullest potential.

Better way to grow is to take up challenges. Take up jobs where you need to make yourself better to achieve them. Making yourself better, stronger and wiser each day, you will grow up to your fullest potential.

It’s a short life folks ! You need to remember that you will die one day. Keep yourself reminding this everytime — the clock is ticking.

That new job you just took up

I understand that one’s past would have been an experience of setbacks. I understand that your past may be filled with setbacks — perhaps you didn’t excel as a first-time manager or maybe your last project wasn’t a success. That’s completely okay!

You need to program your mind to make yourself understand : this is a completely new job. The role may be the same, the project may look familiar, but remember that the people are different and the circumstances have changed. Most importantly, you are not the same person — you’ve grown wiser and better by learning from your previous setbacks.

Your past should not, and will not, dictate your future.

As my favourite quote goes — Past is Past. Gatam Gatam.

Technical analysis talks about behavioural pattern in stock markets and play a major role. But dude, give me a break. We are talking life ! Set aside your past trends and step into your future with positivity.

Don’t fake it, but please do not underestimate as well

Have you genuinely explored your capabilities yet? Has life presented you with circumstances that reveal your strengths ?

Do you actually know your strengths?

New experiences / Transformation / Takeover ? — Welcome them with open arms.

Be thrilled for what’s up for grabs, how this change will introduce you to something new and opportunities that lie ahead. Who knows — Change could very well be a positive turning point in your life.

Remember, low confidence never wins. But being confident can fetch you something. Stand Tall Never To Be Shaken

Embrace challenges with a dash of optimism and leap into whatever life has in store for you.

Relax — it’s completely okay

Sometimes you may not reap what you sow.

A sudden twist of fate, like a cyclone, could wipe away all that you’ve worked for.

Remember that control is an illusion.

One may lose everything overnight. But that experience one gained never dissipates. You can rebuild everything, brick by brick, effectively and efficiently than before.

No, your peers or higher-ups sometimes do not have time to think about you. No their mind is not revolving around that dialogue you made wrong or the clerical error which they caught in the report you presented.

We need to remember that even if anything or everything happens, life goes on. Just getup and keep moving forward.

Do what matters

Being a perfectionist might not be apt for every job. Perfection is required in some jobs — a doctor, a pilot, yes, I agree.

So, look at it with your 80 : 20 spectacles on and do the needful.

You do know what matters. Think about, prioritize it and execute it. Often, planning is 80% and execution is 20%.

Hit the right cords at your workplace. And, to do that, you need to prepare.

Prepare well in your winters

Every year has seasons and life undergoes these seasons as well. There are summers, springs and excruciating winters.

Do not get carried away by the springs and make the most of it. Do not succumb to the harsh winters and that’s right time to prepare yourself for the next seasons of life.

Opportunity comes knock your door only once. Are you ready to grab it when it comes?

As winter arrives, the ant diligently gathers the essentials it needs to thrive. Get inspired from the ant, just that there is a change of seasons — we need to prepare in winters for the spring.

Every day matters.

End the day satisfied that you became a little bit wiser, strong and better than yesterday.

Exercise your mind. Exercise your body. Sharpen up your skills ! Prepare.

Build the wall of confidence, brick by brick, and stop not till the goal is reached.

Never too late to learn

Your foundations are quite important. Make them strong.

Possibility of getting exposed or your building being shaken exists only when your foundation is weak.

You do not become a fool by asking questions. But you may become a fool if you never clear the long standing doubt.

No one knows everything. Prepare yourself for the upcoming seasons of Life, you never know what Life has in store for you. There are many winters and springs awaiting you.

Let no one sink your ship

If you are on a constant journey in upgrading yourself for tackling the future, none of the shortcomings you face will hit you hard. You will learn from it and keep yourself moving forward.

The loud reprimands from your boss might demoralize your colleagues, but not you. You’ll absorb the constructive elements, shake off the negativity, and continue to progress.

Stand tall my friend, never to be shaken. Unleash the lion within, keep moving forward with confidence.

Remember that a lion never self doubts its capabilities. It knows itself and makes it ready to fight it out when the situation arises.

Impostor syndrome is a common but largely unspoken issue that affects many professionals. The solution lies not in faking confidence but in facing challenges, learning from the past, and preparing for the winters in life.

Authenticity, resilience, and continuous learning are your keys to overcoming self-doubt.

Take that next step in your career or life with confidence; remember, it’s never too late to learn and grow.

See you at the top.

Cheers !