Anyone else struggling with impostor syndrome? Any advice on how to get past something like this?
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- Love all this advice, I'm 50 and still suffering. I think it's probably quite deep rooted in most cases, and might take some intervention to truely dislodge. But I agree with the kind advice below, take a moment and think 'if you were someone else what would you say to you?' You would probably say something like all these people below, be kind to yourself, know that pretty much everyone struggles with doubts however they look on the outside, and also know that it probably wont go away. Self doubters are often the nicest people, embrace your sensitive side and crack on!
- YES! I find it helpful to write down your experience and achivements and also talk with good friends who know you.
- It's normal. Albert Einstein had imposter syndrome, too! Focus inwards and compare yourself only with the past version of you, not with others.
- @Pip Jamieson Awesome, thanks! :)
- More brilliant advice here:https://the-dots.com/asks/hey-everyone-bit-of-an-interesting-topic-but-i-was-wondering-how-people-manage-their-imposter-syndrome-in-regards-to-their-career-13960I hope that helps @Daniel Pezzi
- This is something that I have been trying to understand and work on for a few months now. So happy I came across your post today. I have tried to analyse the root of this feeling because I beleive that any discomfort about ourselves that we feel so strongly can only come from a bud that has been growing for quite some time. For me it was the subtle observation that 'Oh my friends don't appreciate my work or my art' or 'My family does not understand how tedious a task it is to do what I do.'That's when I questioned myself by asking 'WHY do you do what you do?' My answer to that was simple, 'because I have fun doing it.'Once I understood that it's my passion that was talking, the noise around people and self doubt decreased. I would be lying if I say that my self doubt has completely dissapered, it does come up time and again.I really enjoy hyping up my friends and even unknown artists but I don't seem to be do enough of that for myself. With the upbringing I have had which always said 'stay humble, stay down to earth', it is harder to appreciate your own work out loud but I am working on it consciously.I guess my 2 cents on this would be to let your passion do the talking and to be your own hype person no matter what.Also, I just signed up for this webinar by General Assembly https://generalassemb.ly/education/overcoming-imposter-syndromeHope this helps in SOME way! Glad to hear we're all working towards better versions of ourself. :)
- Thank you all so much for your amazing words.I truly appreciate having such a supportive community here.
- In the end of the day, everyone is just as confused as the next. It's ok.
- I think most creatives have this to deal with at some point mate.I've been around for twenty years and have worked at some of the very best agencies and publishing houses in London along with having run my own succesful little agency down there - where the edge has to be sharper than anywhere else in the country. My own imposter syndrome was particularly potent for a few years in that period. I've worked at top agencies in Nottingham, Manchester, Leicester - you name it.I made it in the industry, earned my stripes, and now I run a thriving little freelance business in Manchester ... I've had a bloody good career - I'm 40 years old, and yet still to this day those little doubting voices crop up every now and again.All you need to do, is take a breather, and just let it flow. Own it - good or bad. If you fuck up, don't hide. Enjoy your work - be yourself.We're all winging it a little anyway, and you're by far not the only person in the world that has a little self doubt. You simply wouldn't be human otherwise - you'd be a sociopath or something like that! :-)I'd dare bet a few quid that you're doing a bloody grand job and you've no need to feel like an imposter anyway.Good luck with it buddy.
- Have a look at what Tiwalola Ogunlesi, the founder of "confident and killing" does! https://www.confidentandkillingit.comI've found her talks really good to stop wasting time and energy with self doubt. Maybe keep an eye on what is comming up with General Assembly here on The Dots, and you'll manage to join one of her presentation!
- i think one of the best ways i deal with it for me is recognising that its normal to feel like this, its something alot of creatives feel no matter how long they have been in the industry worrying the people around you will notice, but there is that saying baout fake it till you make it, just belive you are exactly where you need to be and are valuable and able to offer a perspective they are missing, a skill they need, a personality in which is part of the make up of your team. theres times when you have low days and times when you feel a bit better, think just make sure you arnt bottling your concerns inside and have friends around you who are there to unload to who wont judge you and will empathise and help make you feel valuable by recognising how hard you try
- Absolutely! Just keep going and being yourself :)Trust that what is meant to be will be and what is not serving you right now is not meant for you. It's all a part of life I guess and probably something that is cause by the pandemic and lockdown process too. If you're sat there with air in your lungs and the ability to do what you do and keeping creating you're doing just fine. There will be times when you're stumped so take a break, go for a stroll, don't think about anything at all.Self-love and trust is so key. It's a tough time, but us humans are tough creatures... You got this!
- I started printing some of my illustrations that I really liked. I have them in a folder, but sometimes I blu-tac them to my wall where I do my drawing. I have to visually remind myself that I can produce great work!Another thing I did recently was go through Lisa Congdon's book 'Find Your Artistic Voice' and use it as a workbook. I made a document with titles like, 'how I apply lines', 'how I use texture' and then gave visual examples (the book has loads of questions to ask yourself!). I reminded me my work is actually really thought out and considered.
- Just start doing what you need to be doing. There is no other way.
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