Imposter syndrome is real. Here’s how to overcome it

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Have you ever sat in front of a task that you knew you had to complete, but you felt that deep, gut-wrenching feeling that you are somehow not good enough to accomplish it?

You’re not alone. Many of us have struggled with how to overcome imposter syndrome. According to Inc, 80% of adults have reported experiencing imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. It more commonly affects women, non-binary individuals and people of color.

In an anxiety-driven, capitalist society divided along fault lines like gender, class and race, it’s no wonder we feel like imposters. All our society has ever told us is that we aren’t good enough.

But you know what? We are good enough and more than we ever imagined.

Working to shift your mindset can be crucial to understanding why you’re thinking the way you’re thinking and also allow you to move through imposter syndrome and speak from a place of confidence. 

You can slay that task like the queen you are, and you know why? Because you are not this shrunken down version of yourself like how you perceive yourself during a daunting task or situation.

Your power is unlimited.

How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome: 7 Ways

Imposter syndrome is a bear to struggle with, but it’s overcome-able. These reasons will help you combat it and give yourself intentional practices to keep at the forefront of your mind.

Therapy can also be a huge help with navigating imposter syndrome, the root of those feelings and overcoming it. Talkspace is an online therapy service that actually matches you with the perfect therapist based on your needs. Therapy is cool, I’m in it – check out for $100 off.

1. Practice makes near perfect.

Practice is the number one gift you can give yourself to overcome imposter syndrome.

One of the reasons we get imposter syndrome is because we’re new and lack confidence with our skill. When it comes to building a successful side hustle, you’re going to feel new at first. Don’t let that stop you from trying and continuing to explore it anyway you want.

Even if you’re not working with clients, practicing your skill can give you confidence and help fight imposter syndrome. 

Related: How to Find Free Online Courses to Boost Your Skills

2. Write down a list of your qualifications.

Another reason that imposter syndrome creeps up is that we have a limiting belief that we aren’t good enough. Instead of listening to that, when that small voice comes to wreck your progress, write down a list of reasons why you’re good enough – because you are in fact good enough!

This can come in a variety of different forms:

  • Keep compliments from clients on your desk to show yourself you’ve done good work.
  • Write down any qualifications you have to show yourself how much you already care about your craft.
  • Keep awards you’ve won present to remind yourself that others believe in you.

If you don’t have some of these, that’s OK. They will come in time. Instead, write a list of reasons why you’re good at what you do. It could be that you’re passionate about it, curious about it, or that your friends have always said you’re great at it.

Whatever positive motivator to keep you grounded you need is important. Keep it present and accessible when you work. 

3. Tell yourself why you’re the best person for this job. 

Often, imposter syndrome creeps up because we don’t believe in our ability to do the job. Fight that by going to the root of the problem.

Ask yourself why you’re good for this job. Maybe because you’re a kick ass graphic designer and are passionate about the product. Maybe because you’re an amazing writer who cares about personal finance.

Find your why and hold onto it. Tightly. 

Your why is your key to doing what you do. It can be scary to start something new, or feel like you’re not good enough, but if you keep your why at the forefront of your mind, you’ll be able to remember why you’re doing this and keep going. 

4. Set a timer for 30 minutes and work. 

Oftentimes imposter syndrome can keep us from working on the project at all. Short circuit this by giving yourself a 30-minute timer and just starting. Don’t allow yourself to judge the work you’re doing, just get started on the project.

Sometimes not giving imposter syndrome time to overwhelm you and jumping into the project is the jumpstart you need to fight it. 

5. Address your thinking traps and flip the script. 

Imposter syndrome comes from doomsday thinking. Often, we hear scripts in our head like, “I’m going to be terrible at this, and there’s no way they’re going to hire me.” The flipped script to that is, “Well what if it turns out okay, and they do hire me again.” Encouraging yourself to think positively is a huge way to shift your mindset and think positively.

Another common thinking trap is, “I’m not qualified to do this and they’re not going to be pleased with the product.” You can flip this around as well and say, “It’s okay that I’m new at this. I’m only going to get better with experience, and I shouldn’t be too hard on myself.” 

6. Develop a support group of creatives doing the same thing. 

Having a group of people who are fully committed to their craft can be super helpful when fighting imposter syndrome. Hearing other people tell you that you’re doing well and listening when you’re fighting your inner demons is hugely important to combating imposter syndrome. 

You’ll also be able to give back to your community and help other people with their imposter syndrome. This helps you see that you believe in people the same way they believe in you, and it can help rewrite how you feel about your craft. 

If you’re looking for a community to connect with others, check out our free side hustler community.

7. Ask for help. 

Imposter syndrome can get overwhelming if you let it fester alone. Asking for help can manifest in a variety of different ways.

Sometimes, you just need clarification on a project. While it can feel scary to ask your client for more details on a project, this is the best way to get the project done correctly and to your client’s satisfaction. If you need to, practice what you’re going to say before reaching out to the client. Or send an email.

Other times, asking for help can be reaching out to another freelancer in your network and sharing the project. If you’ve realized that the scope of your project is too large to handle alone, it’s okay to bring another person on. Just make sure they’re paid adequately for their help. 

Remember: You Are Not an Imposter

Imposter syndrome is one of the roughest crosses to bear in the freelance world. It takes every trick in the box to help get you to a place where you can finally banish your imposter syndrome. And it’s OK if that takes a while.

The important thing is that you refuse to let it overwhelm your creativity. 

This article originally appeared on ILikeToDabble.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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12 Boomer skills that are becoming obsolete

12 Boomer skills that are becoming obsolete

Our Gen Z kids and grandkids are digital natives. They can convey nuance in their text messages, effortlessly navigate wherever they want to go, and get a pizza delivered anywhere, anytime. But they’ve never learned some of the old-school, analog skills most of us were taught as we grew up. Does it matter?

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Does it matter? TIME Magazine says yes, claiming that cursive writing is harder to forge, activates different parts of the brain, and allows people to read historical documents in their original form. Other than signing your name, I’m not convinced. The only time my kids need to read cursive is when they get cards from their grandparents, and those can be “translated” easily.

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Does it matter? Probably not. When was the last time you needed to use a rotary phone? In any case, it’s something kids could learn in about a minute. Watching teens try to make a call with a rotary phone is entertaining, though. (For more phone-related fun, check out this 1954 Bell System video tutorial on how to switch from operator-assisted calls to dial calls.)

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Does it matter? According to Martha Stewart, yes, for practical and educational reasons. Sewing allows you to design, create, and mend clothing, and it can help build planning and math skills and hand-eye coordination. I still put my rudimentary sewing skills to use when I need to sew on a button or repair a small tear, but I leave the more complex projects to the experts.

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Does it matter? Maybe. PBS Kids says reading maps helps build spatial reasoning skills, and certainly understanding compass directions and the concept of the magnetic North Pole should be part of everyone’s education. It’s tough to compete with the technology behind Waze and Google Maps, though. A map or compass might come in handy when that technology isn’t available, as long as you can manage to find a map or compass. 

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Does it matter? Most of the time, probably not. Sorry, stick-shift aficionados (and I count myself among them). Edmunds reports that only 1.2% of new cars sold in 2019 had manual transmissions, as of October. As much as some of us may love them, it looks like shifting for ourselves is on its way out.

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Does it matter? It depends. Family Handyman says you can change your own oil in about 20 minutes and save some money. I’m sure this project would take me a lot longer than 20 minutes, and I’m not convinced on the cost savings. You need to buy oil and a filter, own or borrow the right tools, and have access to a garage or driveway where you can work. You also need to take your used oil someplace to recycle it. It’s nice to know how to change your own oil, and rewarding to do things yourself, but for most of us, the time vs. money trade-off probably isn’t worth it.

SPONSORED: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor

1. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes.

2. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

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Does it matter? Yes, but being able to use this skill in real life is questionable. AAA reported in 2017 that 28% of new cars didn’t come with spare tires. About 14% of new cars come with run-flat tires; for the rest, manufacturers have often eliminated spares to improve fuel efficiency. If you don’t have a spare, you can’t change a tire. And even when you do have a spare, lug nuts are often so tight that many of us can’t loosen them to remove the flat tire.

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Does it matter? Nostalgic as we may be, it’s hard to make an argument for this one. The Smithsonian reported on the death of the card catalog in 2015

RIP, Dewey Decimal.

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Does it matter? The skill matters; the system, not so much. To be sure, monitoring your accounts for accuracy and keeping your expenses below your income are cornerstones of personal finance. Logging in online to check your finances regularly works better than a paper-and-pencil system for just about all of us.

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Does it matter? The Weekmakes an argument for print dictionaries over their online counterparts and points to the serendipity factor — while looking up one word you’ll likely come across other words that are interesting.

It’s tougher to make that argument for a thesaurus, where you’re likely looking for an alternative to a word you already know.

And your options for analog encyclopedias are limited. The Encyclopedia Britannica’s 2010 version was its last in print, and the World Book is the only general encyclopedia still being printed today

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Does it matter? Yes. It’s a good idea for all of us to memorize, or at least have analog access to, an emergency contact number at minimum. But with 10-digit phone numbers, multiple area code overlays, and phones serving individuals, not families, it’s not feasible for most of us to commit a lot of numbers to memory. 

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Do you know where it goes? Does it matter? Um, yes. Everyone should know how to do this.

This article originally appeared on Considerable.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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Featured Image Credit: fizkes/ iStock.

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