If you’re an author like me (or any other person, really), you’re likely familiar with the idea of imposter syndrome. Merriam-Webster defines imposter syndrome as “a psychological condition that is characterized by persistent doubt concerning one's abilities or accomplishments accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one's ongoing success.”
It’s difficult to exist in a world of online connection and constant advertisements and not compare yourself to other people, which can lead to harsh judgments of ourselves.
Never fear, though! There are ways to handle imposter syndrome so that it doesn’t take over and prevent you from doing what you do well—yes, you do it well!
When you doubt your own abilities and accomplishments, try one (or more) of the following five tips.
Recognize imposter syndrome for what it is—a feeling that will pass.
Awareness is the first step to empowerment, so we need to learn to recognize imposter syndrome when it starts to nag at our brains. Imposter syndrome comes about through doubt and fear, which are both temporary emotions. Once we become mindful of those feelings, we can take a step back and view them as passing clouds instead of perennial storms.
Create a win jar.
A win jar is a place to put all the things you’ve achieved—a collection of your accomplishments, both big and small, that you can celebrate. Some people like to write their wins on a strip of paper and put it into a physical jar on their desk, but you can also keep track of them on a bulletin board, in a Word document, or on a sticker chart. The idea is to have these motivating moments easily accessible and visible so you can draw on them when imposter syndrome rears its ugly head.
Celebrate your wins.
Although it may be tempting to move on from one accomplishment to the next, it’s not enough to simply write down that win. Writing it down is likely not enough to ease that imposter syndrome. You need to celebrate it! Feel that happiness, that sense of success and achievement. If you struggle to come up with ways to celebrate, sit down and make a list for future reference. Here are some celebration ideas for you:
Take a break from work and do something fun, like playing a video game, reading, or going for a walk.
Book a day off and go for a hike or a day trip.
Buy yourself a little treat, like ice cream or candy. Or maybe a bottle of nail polish, or a new book!
Do a happy dance.
Go out for dinner with someone you love.
Have a bubble bath.
Buy yourself flowers.
Go for a massage.
Watch your favorite movie.
If you do something else to celebrate, share your ideas with me!
Surround yourself with a supportive community.
It’s much easier to keep imposter syndrome at bay when you’re surrounded by people who appreciate you and let you know it. These people can be your family and friends, but they can also be your writing group members or an online community. Find people who understand your struggles and who you can reach out to when you’re feeling down. Then you can pump each other up and remind each other of how amazing you are!
Cultivate joy, awe, and gratitude.
It has been scientifically proven that joy, awe, and gratitude improve our moods and our empathy, and it’s difficult for imposter syndrome to poke at us when we’re feeling good. So find opportunities to cultivate these positive feelings in your life. Here are some ideas of how to do that:
Turn off your phone and go for a walk in nature. Pay attention to all five senses as you experience the natural world.
Eat your favorite meal mindfully. Pay attention to the taste, the texture, and the smell.
Watch a movie or TV show with gorgeous cinematography.
Close your eyes and listen to music that makes your heart swell.
Learn about something new and truly think about how cool it is.
Keep a gratitude journal that you write in daily.
Keep track of your highlights every day and look back at those highlights occasionally.
To recap, we’ve looked at five ways to alleviate imposter syndrome: recognize what it is and that it will pass, create a win jar, celebrate your wins, surround yourself with supportive community, and cultivate joy, awe, and gratitude.
These things will help you see your own value and be proud of what you’ve accomplished!
Let me know if you have other tips for handling imposter syndrome.
Happy writing!
Great tips! Impostor Syndrome is so sneaky. I think another thing that is important to recognize is that when it strikes, it means you're doing (or about to do) something really meaningful to you, and that will likely make a real difference in the world. So, in some ways, I've learned to embrace Impostor Syndrome. I don't like the feeling, but it's become a signal of sorts that I'm doing something that matters to me, so I'm on the right track. ♥