Hi everyone, I hope you’re all well. Today I’m talking about the dreaded ‘Impostor Syndrome’.
Do you ever feel like a fraud? That everyone around you is more qualified than you are and that it’s only a matter of time until you’re exposed as the impostor you feel you are? Well, welcome to the club! This feeling is called impostor syndrome, and it’s very common among people striving for success.
Impostor syndrome is that horrible nagging feeling of inadequacy accompanied by a fear of failure which can be all-encompassing and can lead to a lack of follow-through in your work. It can be so easy to listen to that little voice of self-doubt telling you you’re not good enough and quit writing or whatever else you’re trying to succeed in, but it’s important to stay the course. If you really want something, you have to keep striving for it, and with that in mind, here are:
5 Tips for Overcoming Impostor Syndrome
1 Acknowledge and Accept your Feelings
It’s important to acknowledge your feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. Accept that these feelings are part of the writing process and that many, many people experience them. Recognizing that these feelings are normal can help you take steps to address them.
2 Reframe your Thoughts
Once you’ve acknowledged your impostor syndrome, it’s important to reframe your thoughts. Instead of thinking “I’m not good enough,” try saying to yourself “I can do this.” This positive self-talk can, eventually, help you to see things differently and push through your doubts and achieve your writing goals.
3 Seek Support
If you’re struggling to overcome impostor syndrome on your own, seek out support from people in your life. Speak with a trusted friend or family member about your feelings, or consider joining a writers’ group (either online or in person) where you can share your work and receive feedback (and don’t worry about any negative feedback you may receive – it’s how we grow as writers).
4 Celebrate your Accomplishments
It’s important to notice and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small you may think they are. Impostor syndrome can make it difficult to see them, so it’s important that you take some time to reflect on what you’ve achieved. A little self-reflection can help boost your confidence and allow you to see what you’ve accomplished and that you can succeed.
5 Use Impostor Syndrome as a Motivation
Take all of those ‘impostor syndrome’ thoughts and actively decide to prove them wrong. If you’re writing, then you are a writer and you deserve your space in the writing community. Let the self-doubt drive you and propel you forward to achieve your goals. You can absolutely do this!
Remember that you’re not alone if you’re struggling with impostor syndrome and by following these tips, you can start to overcome your self-doubt and claim your space in the world.
As always, thank you for taking some time to stop by and read, I really appreciate it!
Until next time,
George
© 2022 GLT
Categories: Staying Motivated, Writing Tips
GEORGE L THOMAS 
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