How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome

Despite making art consistently since I was little, majoring in Fine Arts in college, pursuing an MFA, and running my own creative studio, I wasn’t able to call myself an artist til I turned 30. Honestly, it still makes me deeply uncomfortable. When asked my profession these days, I can at least say “I’m an artist.” Sometimes I still feel compelled to follow it up with a handful of qualifiers and explanations, but I’m proud I can say the words! 

Impostor syndrome is a beast, but you’re not alone in combating it. It’s estimated that 70% of the population grapples with feelings of being a fraud at least once in their lives. This fear can manifest in specific circumstances or it can be a life-long presence. It shows up as persistent doubts in your talents, skills, and accomplishments. The amazing things you’ve done may feel unearned, as if they happened more by chance rather than as a result of your hard work. 

I notice when I have my impostor monster reigned in, I’m able to get motivated easier, enter the flow state faster & longer, and create better quality work. Having it in check also impacts my career on a macro-level. I tend to avoid self-sabotage of new opportunities. I take more ambitious leaps in my career trajectory.

Here are a few tactics that help me tame the beast, perhaps they’ll work for you:

• Practice mindfulness. Get to know the manner in which your impostor monster manifests. Common symptoms are:

  • Self-doubt, self-blame & shame

  • Feelings of fraudulence

  • Being hypercritical

  • Difficulty internalizing success

  • Decrease in quality of work performance

  • Job dissatisfaction

  • Overachievement

  • Energy depletion

  • Anxiety & depression

• Share your thoughts & feelings with a therapist, coach, mentor, or trusted friend. You are not alone! Please do not isolate yourself. Your emotions are valid. The more we talk about our struggles, the more they are normalized and feel surmountable.

• Celebrate your achievements. Write down a list of your accomplishments, positive attributes, and skills. I recommend creating a brag sheet to all my clients. It provides evidence to refute the lies the monster tells you about your competence and success. Consider journaling about the specific steps you took to hit milestones. Reward yourself! It’s helpful to have incentives when in pursuit of positive behaviors.

• Seek critical feedback. I have a group of friends and family I regularly use as a focus group for my endeavors. They offer invaluable insights and always validate my efforts. Criticism may hurt sometimes, but it will help you improve!

• Give positive reinforcement to yourself and others. When you recognize a job well-done, let the person you’re observing know. Not only may they struggle with impostor syndrome as well, but it gives you permission to offer kindness to yourself. We are our habits.

• Avoid burnout. Individuals with impostor syndrome are more likely to experience overwhelm due to high expectations coupled with fear of failure and feelings of inadequacy. The need to prove competence (to ourselves and others) sometimes leads to overachievement. Visit our post on avoiding burnout for a few tips. 

Pobody’s Nerfect

• Battle perfectionism. We’re working on some Rituals at the moment to help with this feat. We also have a more in-depth post planned for this complicated topic, but in the meantime here are a few quick tips:

  • Acknowledge your struggle.

  • Identify why you feel this way.

  • Set small, attainable goals.

  • Practice self-care.

  • Dispute negative thoughts.

  • Avoid multitasking.

  • Imagine the worst case scenario.

  • Trust in the process.

• Cultivate a growth mindset. There are a million ways to do this and this topic definitely deserves its own post, but I feel the most powerful tool is seeking personal development. Try viewing your perceived failures as opportunities to learn and grow. Competence = confidence. Having confidence is an extremely effective weapon to have in your arsenal.

• Be creative! Make art without consequence or harsh judgment. Challenge yourself to only focus on your work’s positive attributes. It’s helpful to have a safe space to make mistakes and learn to be comfortable with them.

My favorite lesson here is that we are all in this together. It’s refreshing and heartening to keep in mind the universality of our human struggles. Remember that the negative thoughts that may plague you are not always a reflection of reality.

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You are enough! You are talented! You are worthy! You are capable!
You deserve all the amazing things in your life! 

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Creativity Explored

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Creativity Explored gives artists with developmental disabilities the means to create and share their work with the community, celebrating the power of art to change lives.

What tips do you have in your arsenal? Have you tried these out? How did they work for you?

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Thank you,

🌞 Nicole

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