What do you do if imposter syndrome is hindering your creativity as a creator?

Imposter syndrome’s close cousin is perfectionism, and the limiting beliefs that underlying it. Exploring the feelings underlying imposter syndrome will often reveal those limiting beliefs. And once they’re acknowledged, they lose a lot of their cognitive inertia. Once you get there, reframes will have more effectiveness. “The only way I’ll ever be good at something is to be bad first.”

Imposter syndrome helps me think out of the box. I try to strive for excellence. I reinvent myself and this keeps me fresh. I am never over confident. One should relish it especially when we are in our initial stage of being a creator.

You can't feel imposter syndrome inside your comfort zone. So reframe it as proof of growth. That makes it a positive thing even if it feels ugh. Just like solid exercise at the gym hurts.

It is hard to imagine that those we consider successful in the field, people we look up to are also experiencing imposter syndrome as we all do. I spoke with many skilled, successful people with an amazing, decades-long career - many admitted that even after all those years, imposter syndrome kicks in. They get to situations when they feel they are not good or knowledgeable enough. It is ok to feel as an imposter. It is actually absolutely normal and a part of our life. But it is also important to see it, recognise it and not let it hinder you or even drag you down. It is possible to embrace it turn it into a force which drives us to learn more, get better and achieve more - once you acknowledge this, you can make it your advantage.

I don't fully agree with this as affirmations can feel fake and like we're trying to fool ourselves. Reframe that this is evidence of growth. And that the first few weeks outside our comfort zone is always rough. That's expected. So it's all positive proof of growth. The audience and others are irrelevant. Focusing on them will not help you get better !

There is only one you. Remember why you are sharing content. To provide value and serve others so you can educate people on something you know. The bonus of that comes with people finding you credible such that they follow you and eventually buy, then eventually tell others. Stick to your message and you will never be an imposter.

Combatting imposter syndrome involves building a supportive community. Surround yourself with fellow creators who understand the challenges you face. Sharing experiences and seeking validation from peers can help normalize feelings of self-doubt. Collaborate on projects to leverage collective strengths and celebrate each other's achievements. By fostering a network of encouragement and solidarity, you'll find strength in unity to overcome imposter syndrome and unleash your creative potential.

Being alone to deal with imposter syndrome is hard. Find support in communities or by directly connecting with people though LinkedIn or events. Don't be afraid of opening up about your imposter syndrome. Talk about it with others and you will see that many will open up to you about their struggle with it. Find a guide - ideally someone who is more experienced that you. Mentor or coach can be incredibly beneficial as they offer a safe space to talk about what you are experiencing and what you tried to do about it. Tell them about the thoughts which you were afraid to present publicly. You might find out that this fear is just in you and the ideas are good. Believe that people are here to support you if you ask for their support.

Something I've found helpful is correct or different framing of the project or issue that is initiating the imposter syndrome. Having a mentor at a time like this can be really useful - with or without a mentor it's time to break the project down into bite size pieces, get clarity on what success would look like per piece, test your assumptions against someone who is not emotionally attached to the project and then put 100% focus on one of the pieces. Normally 'winning' or delivering a piece will start to shift the internal mood and at least assuage the imposter. Check in and ask your mentor/coach to keep you accountable...rinse and repeat and remember to have a small celebration or reward for the small successes.