Back yourself – you’ve got this!
We all have feelings of self-doubt and incompetence — it’s often called ‘imposter syndrome’ — and it affects everyone from students to CEOs.
To get around those feelings, we often hold ourselves to impossibly high standards and work until we burn out. So how do we overcome it?
Here are some simple steps you can take next time that sinking feeling creeps in:
1. Talk
Talking to friends and whānau can help you separate what’s real from what is nagging self-doubt.
Next time one of those negative thoughts pops into your head, try asking yourself: who told me that? More often than not, the answer is “no one did” — it was just your own brain being unnecessarily hard on you!
2. Celebrate
Get into the habit of jotting down your wins, and use them as a reason to celebrate yourself.
Try keeping a small diary or folder of screenshots, recording all the positive feedback you get from others. Think of it as your own private brag book to whip out on a rainy day.
3. Challenge
It’s important not to simply accept the negative thoughts that wander into your head. Challenge them!
We know it’s easier said than done, but try your best not to compare yourself to others. Everyone is different, and everyone (yes, everyone) has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. That’s life!
4. Accept
You’re not perfect, and that’s okay. Give yourself a break! Try to make peace with the fact that none of us can be an expert at everything we do.
It is perfectly normal to make mistakes in both our personal and professional lives. If we didn’t, we would never learn or grow.
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