let me start by saying that you are not alone. impostor syndrome can be described as feelings of constant self doubt, not feeling worthy of the skills and talent that you possess, and feeling like you do not deserve the accomplishments that you have made. according to the impostor phenomenon study, about 70% of americans deal with these feelings. living in this day and age of social media, it’s no surprise that the numbers are so high as we often find ourselves comparing our livelihoods and achievements to complete strangers online, and often feel like frauds posing for the camera and sharing our stories.
a few days into the new year, i had a very personal encounter with impostor syndrome that led me to doubt my skills and talent as a photographer after a potential lead decided to go with another photographer instead of me. i started to compare the other photographers' work to my own, and it led to a downward spiral of me wanting to give up shooting as a whole.
i’m generally a positive person, but in this moment i felt so unqualified, and allowed my emotions to take over, but i’m glad that it happened. allowing myself to feel these feelings challenged me to reaffirm my why. i came to the realization that my worth as a photographer is not determined by who decides to book with me or not-but by what’s always been within me. the next morning, i shared my ‘why,’ over on my photography instagram, and it felt so good to regain my confidence and begin to believe in myself again
when dealing with these thoughts, it’s important to realize that self doubt is a part of life, but that doesn’t mean that you have to allow it to define or control you. know that you have the power to overcome these feelings and use them to your advantage! here are four practical ways that will help you to overcome impostor syndrome
1. WATCH HOW YOU TALK TO YOURSELF + OTHERS ABOUT YOURSELF
if you find that you’re always talking yourself down around others, it will only continue when you’re alone in your thoughts. be kind to yourself. speak words of love. practice positive self talk. i literally will tell myself “yes girl you did that,” after accomplishing something and have found that this helps with reducing my stress + anxiety levels and reaffirming my confidence and worth. embrace the compliments that you receive from others, and love on yourself!
2. SAY YES TO CHANGE
out of fear for what the next level may hold, we can often hold ourselves back from receiving our blessing. embrace the newness and know that you were called on because you are qualified. think about all of the doors that saying yes to more opportunities (that align with your purpose ofcourse,) can bring about.
3. REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE
on a daily basis, so many of us are dealing with impostor syndrome, and that includes people who you may even be comparing yourself to. know that it is normal to have these thoughts, and that you can and will be able to move past them. if there is someone who you’re comfortable speaking with, i encourage you to do so as they have probably been there too, and can offer more insight on how they cope
4. EMBRACE THE FEELING AND USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
oftentimes the lowest of lows can bring about the highest of highs. as shared earlier, in allowing myself to process my feelings of self doubt and lean into them, a new sense of confidence in my talents was gained just a few hours later. know that these feelings may come and go-but that with each storm, there is always a rainbow at the end. you’ve got this!
for more on my encounter with imposter syndrome and tips on overcoming it, check out my youtube video below!
Comments