One of the things I battled when I joined Google (and frankly still working my way through) is Imposter Syndrome! That feeling of inadequacy, not belonging, not being smart enough or good enough to take up space, even when you did all the right things to get there.
However, throughout 2022 I learned that when faced with new situations/circumstances, you will feel intimidated. That's for sure because It is uncharted territory!!!! The brain likes familiarity and an absence of that (which is what a new situation/job/project represents), throws the brain into a panic. Now, what do you do at this stage? How do you manage the situation?
You have to regulate your nervous system and reaffirm your value to yourself. It's all about the self-talk! Does your pendulum swing more to the negatives than the positives? Do you regard others' strength at the expense of yours? Are you so enamoured by the display of other people's creativity/ innovation that you lose sight of your own power? The key to winning against imposter syndrome is to calm your brain with positive reinforcement. Words like:
These words of affirmation strengthen you from the inside out, as they are truths (not emotions or circumstances-based) and you will notice that you begin to feel calmer and less intimidated. Personally one of my favourite ones is ' I am valuable and my contribution matters'. It's such a game changer for me.
"I am valuable and my contribution matters'. It's such a game changer for me."
Maybe imposter syndrome is an indicator of growth? Coming out of your comfort zone into the unfamiliar? Maybe it's just our brain's alert system that we are entering new territory and it gives us a chance to grow, expand our horizon, challenge our norms, reveal hidden potential in us? Maybe imposter syndrome is an opportunity to remind ourselves that we are each uniquely valuable and shouldn't be something we work to fight against but to understand what it means and what our brain is trying to tell us? Maybe it should be celebrated because it means we aren't stagnant?
