3 Unexpected Ways Imposter Syndrome Shows Up In Your Life
If you have imposter syndrome, you are probably…
Feeling like you’re not good enough, which comes in many possible flavors like:
“I didn’t get enough done, I’m so behind, I’m so messy and not on top of it.”
“I’m not qualified, I don't know what I’m doing.”
“Am I doing this wrong? Am I making a mistake?”
“People are going to be so mad at me. People will be so disappointed in me.”
Doubting yourself and questioning yourself
Feeling out of place or like you don’t belong
The most obvious way that imposter syndrome shows up for people is that they just feel stressed all the time.
But today, I want to introduce you to 3 other, more subtle ways that imposter syndrome shows up in people’s lives.
1: You need to numb out at the end of the day
You’re busy and focused and getting things done all day long…
But when you close your laptop at the end of the day, here it comes…
👻👻👻 The endless loop of self-questioning, self-criticism, and rumination 👻👻👻
Now that everything is quiet and there’s no work to keep you distracted, the self-critical soundtrack roars into the foreground.
And there’s no way you’re going to sit there and just listen to that painful soundtrack…
So you grab a snack, a drink, your phone, a Netflix show — or even your laptop to do more work! — just to block that voice out.
That’s imposter syndrome.
It’s just coming in a big whoosh at the end of the day instead of little by little all day long.
2: You instantly internalize feedback
When someone gives you a suggestion, constructive criticism, an area for development, or even a tiny hint that you could have done something differently…
Your first reaction is “Got it, let me incorporate that feedback immediately.”
And NOT “Okay, but what do I think?”
If you don’t pause to FILTER any feedback you receive with questions like…
Who is this person anyway?
Do I trust their judgment?
Do their goals and agenda align with MY goals and agenda?
Do I agree with their assessment of the situation?
Are they someone I want to listen to and serve better? Or are they someone I DON’T want to be serving, and I just need to get comfortable letting them be unhappy?
If you jump to implement feedback without asking those questions…
That’s imposter syndrome.
Because you’re instantly placing the opinion of ANYONE who talks to you above YOUR authority and YOUR expertise.
3: You want someone else to tell you what to do
If you run into a challenge at work, and your first thought is, “What do the experts say to do about this?”
Or if you’re contemplating your next career step, and you keep asking everyone else, “What do you think I should do?”
If you feel stuck, confused, or like you just don’t know…
And your first line of defense is to seek an answer outside of you…
That’s imposter syndrome.
Because you’re assuming that you don’t know and you can’t figure it out.
Instead of tapping into your own expertise and finding everything you already DO know….
Trusting your own signals and coming up with your own hypotheses about the situation…
And THEN seeking out external answers (if you want) to as a way of refining your own answer (NOT as a way of supplanting your authority and just doing what someone else says).
Imposter syndrome is so much more than “just being stressed at work.”
It’s a WAY OF SEEING YOURSELF that causes you to doubt yourself, question your abilities, and NOT bring your best self to the table every day.
And if you want to learn how to cut that shit out.
If you want a step-by-step process that will help you systematically…
Have your own back and STOP criticizing, questioning, and judging yourself
Take in others’ opinions with a grain of salt instead of instantly believing them
Learn how to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity with confidence and conviction
Then you need to join the waitlist for my 2023 course & coaching program:
From Imposter to “I Got This.”
The High-Stress High Achiever’s step-by-step guide to:
- Eliminate work stress and imposter syndrome
- Get clear + get moving on their next career step
- Create a life they love living
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