Imposter Syndrome
It’s time to battle it out.
2020 was a whirlwind. There was a lot of change for everyone. The good, the bad, and the neutral.
Rewind back to June 2020, I told myself I was ready for a change. What kind of change? Well, I’ve been working in a real estate for almost 3 years and ready to challenge myself in a different way.
Immediately I was presented with imposter syndrome.
“I’m not smart enough to be a software engineer.”
“I can’t do it.
“Is it worth the risk or should I stay in my comfort zone?
If you’ve never experienced some sort of doubt when trying something new, then you’re probably not a human (totally kidding). I did what I always do whenever I start to feel stressed out, I took a step back and went for a run.
Fast forward to today, I will be graduating in less than a month from Flatiron School and begin (or really continue) my career as software engineer.
Was I nervous about what the outcome could be? Yes.
Am I happy that I continue to push imposter syndrome aside and focus on creating action? 100%.
Below are 5 things to remind yourself whenever imposter syndrome starts to creep up.
1. You’re not alone.
You’re not alone. You’re not alone. You’re not alone.
The more you say it, the more you believe in it. Be vocal when you’re feeling down. Most of the time you’ll find other people who is or have felt the doubt you might be feeling.
It’s so important to find a supportive group to root you on. When you start to feel better, don’t forget to pass on the support.
2. Stop comparison and focus on YOU.
Social media has made it so easy to compare yourself against other people. I know I’ve been on a victim of spending hours on YouTube wishing I could seamlessly create incredible applications. Instead of sitting there and dreaming, take action.
Telling yourself that social media is not the full window into reality and just moments is extremely important when you’re venturing off into a new adventure.
3. Remind yourself of your purpose.
The first thing you shouldn’t do in the morning is grabbing your cellphone to check your message, alerts, ect. Why not take a few minutes to remind yourself of your purpose. This allows you to start your day off on the right foot.
The beauty of writing your purpose down is that you’ll be able to see how you evolve as a person. Try it for a month to see how much you’ve grown.
4. Everyone starts somewhere.
Everyone has to start somewhere. Most people aren’t born with the ability to seamlessly write python, javascript, ruby, ect. It takes time, practice, and dedication to master a language.
Remember when you tried to a bike for the first time? You probably had some trouble keeping your balance. Coding isn’t much different. Some people are born with the ability to learn quickly, but majority will have to continue to master their skillset.
5. Understand your feelings.
It’s easy to just put your feelings on the back burner. Instead, take the time to acknowledge how you’re currently feeling. Take a few minutes to write down why behind those feelings?
Once you have the why, read it out loud and see how you can see the positive in them.
Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel like you don’t “fit” the part. The issue comes is when you continue to dwell on those feelings rather than taking action and finding a resolution.
If you continue to see a trend in those feelings, then it’s time to share it with some colleagues, family, or friends. Once you share it, you’ll feel better.
With dedication, motivation, and hard work, you can truly do anything your heart tells you do.
Now it’s time to take a deep breath. Tell and BELIEVE that everything is going to be okay, then the magic starts to kick in.
