Here's how you can overcome imposter syndrome as a mid-career professional in patient advocacy.

Seek Support and Mentorship: Getting support from a mentor who can help you overcome feelings of self-doubt is crucial in combating imposter syndrome. Reflect on Your Achievements: Take time to reflect on your skills, experiences, and successes in patient advocacy to reinforce your confidence and self-worth. Accept Positive Feedback: Avoid downplaying praise and instead accept positive feedback graciously, acknowledging your achievements and capabilities. Keep a Record of Achievements: Maintain a log of compliments and achievements to remind yourself of your successes and capabilities, helping combat feelings of inadequacy. Embrace Positive Self-Talk: Challenge negative thoughts and self-doubt by replacing them with positive affirmations.

Imposter syndrome is very common, even feeling like it is the norm in some professions. But to overcome it, one must confront it head-on. By acknowledging feelings, reflecting on achievements, seeking feedback, and engaging in continuous learning, we can pave the way for growth. Setting achievable goals and surrounding ourselves with supportive networks are crucial steps. Through these strategies, we can break free from self-doubt and unlock our full potential...

Imposter Syndrome seems to creep up on me during high stakes or high stress situations. Grounding myself when I get into this space has helped immensely. Breathing exercises, acknowledging what I see, touch, hear, and smell slows down the spiral I sometimes find myself in. This phenomenon is purely "feelings" based. I feel like I don't belong, therefore I don't deserve it. I counter all of that with all of the work that have gotten me so far. Combat the each negative thought with complimenting myself. It's a difficult practice, but kindness to ourselves is important. Working our compassion muscle is incomplete, if it does not include compassion to ourselves.

Self Awareness is ongoing, interacting with patients, family, friends and community allows us to grow professionally and personally. We should always acknowledge our strengths and continue to develop our knowledge and gifts of perception. Seek visionary and mentors in life and your path will become clear.

Find your peers! LinkedIn is a good place to find like minded individuals. The more you search the more you find competent experts, once you realize that your peers are just the same as you, you begin to overcome that self doubt.

Gaining insights from peers, who you’d be surprised to learn have felt the same and have shared similar experiences, can be incredibly valuable. You may not realize your community exists until you go looking for it. Find your people.

Mentorship: Identify and connect with a mentor who has experience in patient advocacy. A mentor can provide valuable insights, encouragement, and constructive feedback, helping you navigate challenges and build confidence. ? Peer Networks: Engage with professional organizations, online forums, and advocacy groups. These communities offer a platform to share experiences, seek advice, and gain reassurance from peers who understand your journey. ? Professional Counseling: Consider professional counseling or coaching to explore and address the root causes of imposter syndrome. A counselor can help you develop personalized strategies to manage these feelings.

It takes mindfulness, presence, and emotional intelligence, to realize that we are not always in control. It is important to stay genuine and authentic, with realistic goals. Recognize that this could be the way it's meant to unfold with many parallel journeys possible.

I am an over thinker and strive for perfection and this in turn creates stress and pushes deadlines as you go down over analysis paralysis. Let someone point out when you are doing this and have a person that you trust to steer you right. It's no shameful to ask and being helped. Progress comes from knowing what the goal is and to not over deliver nor under deliver. This is where imposter syndrome hides and this is where your network will help you.

SMART Goals: Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals to provide clarity and direction. Realistic goals help you track progress and celebrate incremental achievements. ? Break Down Tasks: Large projects can feel overwhelming. Break them into smaller, manageable tasks, and focus on completing one step at a time. This approach makes progress tangible and reduces stress. ? Reflect and Adjust: Regularly review your goals and adjust them as needed. Reflect on what you’ve achieved and recalibrate your objectives to stay aligned with your capabilities and aspirations.

Some key mindset shifts: ?? Be present and mindful. ?? Realize that we are not always in control. ?? Realize that what is happening is exactly the way it's meant to unfold. ?? Realize that experience is what you get, when you don't get what you wanted, even in the face of what seems like failure.

Shifting perception and perspective mindset. Be willing to learn to there are vital other perspectives that can help you find a multifunctional solution. Example: Most of us take a glass and fill it to the level we like using visual cues. Some of us learnt to use audio input as the tone changes in a container. What if it's dark and you cannot see? You can put half your thumb in the glass and when the water touches your thumb you know you have the desired level. OK, immediately some are going to that won't work with hot water... However you can pop a ping pong ball in the cup and when you feel the ping pong ball you know it's time to stop. This example was showing how the same result can be achieved using different perspectives.

You can kick imposter syndrome to the curb by rewiring your thoughts and actions. It's all about shifting your perspective. Start by owning your mistakes—they're stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. Embrace positivity, and remember, you're a work in progress, but happiness is a choice you make every day. You over l one imposter syndrome one day at a time . The days will become weeks the weeks will become months. The months will become years and one day you will forget you ever felt like an imposter, and you will fully embrace who you are and the greatness within you. #ImposterSyndrome #PositiveMindset #OwnYourJourney"

You can kick imposter syndrome to the curb by rewiring your thoughts and actions. It's all about shifting your perspective. Start by owning your mistakes—they're stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. Embrace positivity, and remember, you're a work in progress, but happiness is a choice you make every day. You overcome imposter syndrome one day at a time. The days will become weeks, and the weeks will become months. The months will become years and one day; you will forget you ever felt like an imposter and fully embrace who you are and the greatness within you. #ImposterSyndrome #PositiveMindset #OwnYourJourney"

Reframe Mindset ? Positive Affirmations: Develop a habit of using positive affirmations. Remind yourself daily of your strengths, qualifications, and the positive impact you’ve had on patients’ lives. ? Cognitive Restructuring: Practice cognitive restructuring by challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with evidence-based positive thoughts. For instance, when doubting your competence, recall specific instances where you made a significant difference. ? Embrace Growth Mindset: Adopt a growth mindset that views challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Recognize that mistakes and setbacks are part of the learning process and do not define your worth.

I have found people that can not accept criticism as constructive or a person trying to be helpful, those people should be in a hole, a job where vital beneficial interaction is not required. A researcher, analyst, data capturer, or some other role where they are still in a role beneficial to the job at hand.

Contact friends, family, or support groups for encouragement and advice. Having a support network can help you feel more comfortable in advocating for yourself. You can also consider working with a patient advocate or counselor.

One thing I find helpful, especially in accepting outright criticism, is to take a step back and view what the feedback is with curiosity rather than immediately becoming defensive or assuming I'm the worst. It takes a lot of practice, but is very much worth it! I recommend thoughts such as "What was the objective experience" (e.g., was anyone physically harmed or was there a poor outcome from the situation), "Do I agree with them and am just ashamed to admit I was wrong?" (this is surprisingly common), and "what lens is this person seeing the interaction through? What lens am I seeing it through?" (e.g., what other subjective factors are at play for both the other party and myself that paint this scenario differently).

Constructive Criticism: View feedback as a tool for improvement. Understand that constructive criticism is aimed at helping you grow, not at undermining your abilities. ? Seek Input: Actively seek feedback from colleagues, mentors, and patients. Diverse perspectives can provide a well-rounded view of your performance and highlight areas for enhancement. ? Reflect on Feedback: Take time to reflect on the feedback received. Identify actionable steps to improve and acknowledge the positive aspects of your work highlighted in the feedback. 6. Practice Self-Care ? Work-Life Balance: Establish and maintain boundaries between work and personal life. Ensure you allocate time for rest, relaxation, and activities that rejuvenate you. ?

I agree totally with accepting positive feedback back and constructive criticism is key, but the reality is that not all environments are conducive to the maturity and honesty needed for this to work.

Resilience requires self-care and self-compassion. It is important to practice mindfulness, presence, and emotional intelligence.

One of the most vital ways I practice self-care is with mindfulness and mindfulness meditation. It can be challenging not to take on others' pain and frustration when helping patients navigate the healthcare system. Mindfulness has been very useful for me since it can be practiced anytime, anywhere. Mindfulness helps me to stay present and grounded when working with patients and healthcare providers. It also allows me to let go and re-center after a challenging conversation.

Work-Life Balance: Establish and maintain boundaries between work and personal life. Ensure you allocate time for rest, relaxation, and activities that rejuvenate you. Mindfulness and Relaxation: Incorporate mindfulness practices, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga, into your routine to manage stress and maintain mental well-being. ? Physical Health: Prioritize physical health through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep. Physical well-being significantly influences mental health and overall resilience.

Learn about your rights as a patient in an inpatient setting. Understand the healthcare system, your diagnosis, treatment options, and possible side effects. Knowledge is empowering and can help you advocate more effectively.