Everyday Cait

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Beating Imposter Syndrome

I’m not as smart, or as good at my job, as you think I am.

This is a thought that used to go through my head literally every day. I was deep in the throws of Imposter Syndrome. It never felt like I was good enough, and that one day you would all find out and everything would get ruined. My blog would vanish. I’d get fired from my job. It was bad, and it was holding me back from taking risks that I knew I needed to take.

Focus on providing value.

When I sit down to write a blog post, like this one, I think about who I’ll be helping. Who needs this post right now? Is it providing some kind of value. If the answer is literally anyone, then I’m not an imposter! It’s helped me think through what it really means to be an imposter. I do this at my day job too. Am I providing value to lierally anybody? Then we’re good!

Change how you talk about yourself.

My success has never been due to luck or chance, it’s due to hard work. I find that women are especially likely to shake off our successes as being due to something other than work. Well, I had a lot of help, or well, I got lucky. That is true, but it' doesn’t matter unless you put in the work, and you did, or you wouldn’t be here.

Remember you’ve been training your whole life for this.

I saw this on Instagram (sorry I can’t remember where!) and it really stuck with me. Everything that I’ve ever done has been leading up to this second, no matter what I’m doing. I’m qualified. I’ve been practicing. All for now. This second. That time, those skills, are valuable.

You’ve got this, and you have nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. If you’re feeling the imposter syndrome, drop it down below and we can support each other.

Lots of love, ladies.