i've been in the corporate world for over two decades and imposter syndrome is real it affects even the best of us. here's the kicker: most of the time, it's all in our heads. you think your coworkers are smarter? newsflash: they're probably thinking the same about you. we're all just trying to figure things out as we go along
now, about those meetings. stop apologizing for your ideas. seriously, just stop. every time you feel the urge to say sorry, replace it with "thank you for listening" or something similar. it's a small change, but it makes a world of difference in how others perceive you
as for improving your self-esteem, start by listing out your achievements. big or small, write them all down. read that list every morning. remind yourself of what you're capable of. and i beg you stop being your own worst enemy. if you wouldn't say it to a friend, don't say it to yourself
@Aman Wow, thanks! I never thought about it that way, that my coworkers might be feeling the same way. It's kinda comfortin like we're all in this together. I'm gonna try that thing you said about replacing "Sorry" with "Thank you". It sounds simple but I bet it'll feel weird at first. Do you think people will notice the change? I'm a bit nervous about suddenly changing how I talk. Even thinking about it now, I can remember a few times I nailed a project and got good feedback. Maybe I'm not as hopeless as I thought. How long did it take you to get over your own imposter syndrome? Or do you still deal with it sometimes?
@Aman Soo I've been working on that achievement list. It's longer than I expected, which is cool. Made me realize I've done more than I give myself credit for. Still working on that being kind to myself part though. It's hard to shake off years of negative self-talk. Do you have any tricks for that? Also, I'm curious, how do you handle it when you actually make a mistake at work? I feel like that's when my imposter syndrome goes into overdrive. Any tips for bouncing back from errors without spiraling into self-doubt?
@aguilartyler.24 people may notice the change, but in a good way. they'll see you as more confident and assertive. it might feel awkward at first, but stick with it. it's like learning any new skill, practice makes perfect
as for imposter syndrome, honestly? i still deal with it sometimes. it's not something that magically disappears overnight. but it gets easier to manage. the key is to recognize it when it pops up and not let it control you
keep challenging those negative thoughts. remember, you were hired for a reason. your skills and talents are valuable. don't let that inner critic tell you otherwise. and hey, on tough days, cut yourself some slack. we're all human, after all. perfection is a myth. focus on progress, not perfection
@mathson hi! that voice in your head is a liar. everyone's got their own battles, even those girls who seem to have it all figured out. they're probably just as exhausted as you are, just better at hiding it
here's the deal: stop comparing yourself to others. it's a losing game. you think you suck at socializing? most people do. we're all just pretending to know what we're doing
want to stop caring what others think? start by being kinder to yourself. every time that voice tells you you're an outcast, tell it to shut up. replace it with something positive. even if you don't believe it at first, fake it till you make it
a simple "hey" or "this class is killing me" can go a long way. remember, everyone's just as nervous as you are. they're probably relieved someone else made the first move. bottom line: be you. the real, messy, exhausted you. that's more than enough. and if someone doesn't like it? that's their problem, not yours
@mathson being "normal" is overrated and yeah, it's wild how we can know all the solutions but still doubt ourselves. that's just part of being human
You think your coworkers have it all figured out? Trust me, they don't. They're probably just better at faking it than you are. Fake it 'til you make it. Act confident even if you don't feel it. Stand up straight, speak clearly, and don't apologize for your ideas. Before you know it, you'll start believing in yourself for real. You got this, man
@collinsabigail.18 Thanks for the advice. I appreciate your perspective, but I'm not sure if simply faking confidence is the answer. My insecurities run pretty deep, and I'm worried that pretending to be confident might come across as inauthentic or even arrogant. I've tried putting on a brave face before, but it feels like my colleagues can see right through it. I want to genuinely feel competent, not just appear that way on the surface
@collinsabigail.18 I appreciate you breaking it down like that. Your explanation makes a lot of sense and I can see how changing my behavior could potentially influence my mindset over time. I guess I've been so caught up in my insecurities that I haven't given myself the chance to grow. One thing I struggle with the most is comparing myself to others, especially those who seem to have it all together
@aguilartyler.24 It's about changing your mindset and behaviors to align with the person you want to become. Think of it as a self-fulfilling prophecy, when you act confident, you start to feel more confident, which in turn makes you perform better. This isn't just pop psychology; there's actual research backing this up. But you're right, it shouldn't just be about appearances. While you're working on your outward confidence, definitely focus on upskilling too
Consider this: what if your insecurities are not a weakness, but a tool for growth? Each time you feel that doubt creeping in, use it as a signal to learn something new, to improve a skill, to reach out and connect with a colleague.
In my experience, self-esteem isn't something that appears overnight. It's built, brick by brick, with each challenge faced, each fear conquered. Start small. Speak up in one meeting, even if your voice shakes. Offer one idea, even if it feels imperfect.
Your worth is not determined by your job title or your colleagues' opinions. It's inherent in you
@Giovani Thank you for your advice. I really appreciate your perspective on using insecurities as a tool for growth. It's a fresh way to look at things that I hadn't considered before. I've been so caught up in comparing myself to others that I forgot about myself. I guess I was hoping for a quick fix, but I understand that it's a process. I'll try to speak up in the next meeting, I'll really do
@Giovani Thank you so much for these š! I really appreciate you taking the time to share all of it with me. The breathing exercise sounds particularly helpful. I can definitely see how that could help me before a meeting. And you're right, I often forget that I was hired for a reason. It's easy to fall into the imposter syndrome trap and forget my own value
@aguilartyler.24 I'm glad my perspective resonated with you. It's completely normal to feel nervous when stepping out of your comfort zone, especially in a professional setting.
Try deep breathing exercises before the meeting. This can help calm your nervous system. Also prepare a few key points beforehand so you have something to fall back on if your mind goes blank. Jot them down if it helps.
Your perspective is valuable, you were hired for a reason, and your unique viewpoint contributes to the team's success
Hi,
Self-doubt is a deeply felt belief about yourself that may be you are not good enough. This could have happened because of past incidents which shaped your thought or childhood related securities.
You should also maintain a journal where you write down all your feelings. you should introspect about this self doubt thought. Now Question your thoughts by asking:
Understanding the root cause of the fear will help you.
i know its hard but if you put it a practice to be compassionate towards you then it will just be a routine or automated behaviour. Anything to learn in life and to master it requires practise so just understand that and inculcate this habit of being positive towards you, start seeing goodness in you, start feeling proud of your success, celebrate it. Celebrate every time you have achieved your target. You don't have to wait till you master it. each small achievements should be celebrated.
if you do makes mistakes while trying to achieve something start speaking positively to yourself. keep repeating to yourself then this is also an opportunity to learn and improve from that mistake so it is okay if i mistake. I would continue to do a mistake and this is how i will learn.Embrace your mistake.
Reflect on your strength. everyday write down 3 strength you observe within you and you must have portrayed those strength in some situation on that day.
Try reflecting on your past activity where you did something challenging and it turned out to be great. See what motivated you to achieve something in the past.
You need to start challenging your thoughts by reframing it and doing it. So say you ask yourself next time what happens if i express my opinion now? say you assume they will judge you or they will think you are not smart. now ask yourself so what? You should now try and just say your opinion and see how does it feel. do it once to understand is it your mind just overthinking and the reality is completely different. This way you challenge yourself by questioning what if or so what. this will give you the strength and confidence to do it.