How do you overcome impostor syndrome as a creative?

High achievers, well educated, smart and knowledgeable people, in any field of endeavor, can experience imposter syndrome. An accomplished motivated person, with many successes can face feelings of self doubt, inadequacy and anxiety often rendering themself "stuck". This phenomenon may stem from fear of failure, lacking self confidence, making comparisons to others, or placing high expectations on oneself. The recipe for success is to get unstuck! Seek help if necessary and stay authentic to your mission. Know that you just added value to someone's life. Sure, others can do it too, but they are not YOU. Get out of your comfort zone and make someone's life better! You just may not be worried about your sabotaging thoughts anymore.

Anyone can experience imposter syndrome, including high performers and leaders. It can show up in various ways, including doubting yourself, second-guessing, experiencing the fear of failure, and overworking. Recognizing these signs is the first step towards overcoming imposter syndrome.

To overcome impostor syndrome as a creative, start by recognizing your achievements and understanding that perfection is unattainable. Surround yourself with supportive peers who understand your journey and can provide constructive feedback. Embrace failure as a part of the creative process, allowing it to fuel your growth rather than hinder your confidence. Set small, achievable goals to build a sense of accomplishment. Practice self-compassion, reminding yourself that doubts are a natural part of the creative process. Engage in continuous learning to enhance your skills and confidence. Remember, impostor syndrome is a reflection of your ambitions, not your inadequacies.

"Imposter" & "Impostor" are both accepted spellings for a term that holds an estimated 70% of professionals back. Can we really trust a "syndrome" that doesn't even know how to spell its first name? Refuse to take it on a label going through an identity crisis. You are not an imposter. You are learning, growing, and finding the places where you can add value, expertise, and impact. Would an imposter (or an impostor) do that work?

“The best way to be confident is to have indisputable evidence.” As a writer, I often doubt my abilities. More so when one of my pieces is criticized. However, in times of doubt, I remember: - I have an English literature degree from the top university in my country. - I had 99 percentile + in Verbal Ability in CAT (the top mgmt. Exam of India) - I have been writing since high school and have been doing it professionally for the past 7 years. With these tangible, concrete pieces of evidence, it is hard for my brain to doubt myself. Motivating yourself with mind tricks is tough when you are already in a negative space. Having objective proof of work is a great way forward.

Before challenging your thoughts, understand that as humans we experience thousands of thoughts everyday, most of which are negative or untrue. We all carry a negativity bias to protect ourselves from the world around us, including from shame and failure. With this understanding, how can you observe these negative thoughts with a new perspective, and choose to focus on thoughts that are actually helpful for your journey instead?

The idea is to anticipate these sneaky thoughts! Ask yourself: What are these sneaky thoughts for me? In what situations do I notice them? These are often thoughts that hide behind imposter syndrome, such as: “I’m not qualified enough to do this.” “What if they find out I don’t really know what I’m doing?” “I don’t deserve to be here compared to others.”

When we celebrate our wins, big or small, something special happens inside the brain. It builds new neural pathways which help us to follow the rut in the road, a 2nd, 3rd, 4th time etc. This process is called neuroplasticity. Over time a new network over-rides the old negative ones. A second smart body event happens too. There's a release of 3 positive hormones. Dopamine hormones, also know as the reward hormone, reinforces confidence and self-worth. Oxytocin, the "bonding" hormone helps us feel closer to others. And the mood boosting serotonin is released when we accept compliments. Neurochemically, you are reinforcing a new truth and belief: "I am worthy, deserve recognition for my efforts, and I have skills, talent and value."

Celebrating your wins along the way is essential for building confidence and breaking past imposter syndrome. What are the small actions you can do to take a moment and savor the celebration? A few ideas: - dance to your favorite song to let the celebration literally sink in - give yourself an *actual* pat on the back - take a breath, smile (it will release some happy chemicals) and say to yourself "I freaking did that"

There's an entire book on this written by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy called "The Gap and The Gain". Essentially, we (high achievers) tend to set goals as an ideal standard to attain. By nature, ideals are not actually meant to be achieved and rather act as a 'North Star' to guide our progress. The problem is that high achievers will measure themselves against the ideal which causes them to constantly be in the gap between where they are and the ideal. Instead of measuring ourselves against the 'Gap', the authors explain the importance of measuring our gains which allows us to have a winning feeling and perpetuate our progress.

Let’s take a moment to look back and truly celebrate!! - The progress you’ve made, even the small wins matter!! - The courage it took to show up, even when it wasn’t easy. - How far you’ve come compared to where you started (not where you think you should be). I was inspired by The Gap and The Gain (fantastic book!) remember: focus on the gain (what you’ve accomplished) rather than the gap between you and perfection. It’s a game-changer!!

A big part of embracing your uniqueness this is connecting your 'Why'; your unique vision for the impact and contribution you want to make in this world. There will always be other people that you perceive to be ahead of you/ doing what you're doing but no one else can bring the unique experiences, flavour and perspective that you can bring. This is what puts you in a category of one and there is no competition.

I love asking my brain empowering questions! For example: - Why am I THE person to do this? - What makes me uniquely capable of succeeding here? - How can I make this easier and more fun? It’s amazing how your brain starts finding answers when you ask empowering questions! :)

No two people have the same fingerprint nor DNA which highlights the beauty of our uniqueness. Embracing who you are is a key to overcoming impostor syndrome. Instead of comparing yourself to others, celebrate your own voice, style, and passions. Recognize that your journey and perspective bring something valuable and irreplaceable to the table. Learn from others, but stay true to you. Trust that your gifts are yours for a reason—lean into them, and let them shine.

It's normal for us as humans to question ourselves, especially after a promotion when we're entering into new territory. You can find support from a mentor who has already walked the path you're about to venture, and can ask for specific feedback along the way to support your growth and where you're heading.

Know that it's okay to make mistakes and fail along the way. Practice is essential, and failure is part of the process. This quote from Michael Jordan is a great way to shift your perspective around failure: “I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Recognize that it's common to feel this way and that feeling like an imposter doesn't reflect your actual abilities or accomplishments Focus on your strengths and past successes, reminding yourself of your skills and accomplishments. Set realistic goals and celebrate your achievements along the way. Surround yourself with supportive peers and mentors who can offer encouragement and perspective. Challenge negative self-talk by reframing it with positive affirmations and practicing self-compassion. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, knowing that even the most accomplished creatives experience self-doubt from time to time. Growth and learning are ongoing processes, it's okay to seek help when needed.