As a Learning and Development Specialist, I've always prided myself on one thing: curiosity. Curiosity has driven me to learn, improve, and tackle challenges. But despite my successes, there's always been a shadow lurking behind me—the feeling of imposter syndrome. That nagging voice that says, "You're not good enough," or "What if everyone finds out you're a fraud?"
It's a struggle, I know, well, and if you're reading this, chances are, you've experienced it too. The good news? There's a way forward, a path that involves staying curious about ourselves, celebrating small wins, and reflecting on our successes.
Staying Curious About Yourself
One of the most powerful tools I've discovered in managing imposter syndrome is staying curious about myself. It may sound strange, but something remarkable happens when you approach your thoughts and feelings with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of spiralling into self-doubt, you explore why you feel the way you do. You ask yourself important questions like:
Why do I feel this way?
What led me to think or behave this way?
What patterns can I identify?
Curiosity transforms self-doubt into self-reflection, allowing us to take an active role in our growth. Rather than letting negative thoughts control the narrative, we become detectives of our own minds. It's like troubleshooting a computer. When something goes wrong, you don't throw up your hands and say, "This computer is useless." You investigate, run diagnostics, and find out what's not working. The same applies to self-doubt: by asking the right questions, we begin to understand ourselves better, which is the first step to growth.
Thinking Back to Successes
Imposter syndrome thrives on making us forget our achievements. It whispers that our past successes were flukes or that we didn't really earn them. However, one of the best ways to combat these feelings is to actively remind yourself of your accomplishments. Reflect on a time when you did something hard, something you thought you couldn't do, and you succeeded.
I've found this practice of reflecting on past successes to be incredibly grounding. It's like building a mental highlight reel. Just as athletes watch videos of their best performances to boost their confidence, we, too, need to review our personal highlights to remind ourselves of our worth and capability.
Next time imposter syndrome rears its head, think back to those moments when you pushed through difficulty, when you exceeded expectations, or when you learned something new and applied it successfully. This mental "highlight reel" serves as evidence that you are skilled, deserving, and capable of handling challenges.
Small Steps and Celebrating Wins
One of the biggest lessons I've learned on this journey is the importance of taking small steps and celebrating even the smallest wins. When you're feeling inadequate or overwhelmed, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that success is all or nothing. But growth doesn't happen in giant leaps; it happens incrementally, one small step at a time.
In my own experience, the moments where I've made the most progress have been when I focused on those small, manageable steps. Each task completed, every new skill learned, or even speaking up in a meeting can feel like a victory. And those victories, no matter how small, add up.
Think of it like building a house. Each brick may seem insignificant on its own, but together, they create a solid foundation. The same goes for your personal growth—every small win is a brick in the foundation of your confidence and resilience. Celebrating these wins reinforces your sense of progress and helps you stay motivated.
Why Do You Feel This Way?
The fact that imposter syndrome is so common says a lot about how our minds work. One reason you may feel this way is because of the brain's negativity bias. Evolutionarily, humans are wired to focus more on negative experiences as a way of surviving threats. This bias makes it easier to remember our mistakes or shortcomings than our achievements, which is why self-doubt can feel so "sticky."
By staying curious about your thoughts, reflecting on successes, and celebrating small wins, you're actively working to retrain your brain to focus on the positive. This helps to counterbalance the negativity bias and allows you to view yourself with more compassion and confidence.
Moving Forward: A Strategy for Growth
If you're feeling the weight of imposter syndrome, here are a few strategies I've found helpful in turning the tide:
Keep Asking Questions: Stay curious about why you think and feel the way you do. When doubts arise, ask yourself, "What evidence do I have that contradicts this?" Often, you'll find that there's more success behind you than you realised.
Create a Success Journal: Start writing down your daily wins, no matter how small. Did you finish a difficult task? Did you contribute an idea in a meeting? Over time, this journal will become a collection of proof that you are capable and deserving.
Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection: Perfection is an illusion. What matters is progress. Every small step forward is something to celebrate. This is key to cultivating a growth mindset and maintaining a sense of resilience.
Four C's will get you to where you want to be. Curiosity, consistency, and celebration will compound over time and give you the desired results.
Remember that imposter syndrome doesn't define you. It's a part of your journey, but it doesn't have to control the narrative. By staying curious, reflecting on your successes, and celebrating small wins, you're well on your way to overcoming self-doubt and embracing your true potential. The learning journey is never over, but with each step, you grow stronger and more confident in who you are and what you're capable of. Keep going—you've got this!
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