F*ck You, Imposter Syndrome!

You know what, I think it's time we left Imposter Syndrome in the past and moved on to live our best lives. I’m not saying it’s straight forward, neither am I saying it’s an easy task. But, I think we really need to park this feeling of inadequacy based on some negative messaging we keep in our heads which shape this behaviour.

Yeah, I know some of the more sensitive will be thrown by the strong language I use here. But surely by now, people must be fed up of having to feel this way and there must be a way of unpicking the way that too many of us, (yeah I have had it), feel that we are not good enough.

Somewhere along the line, many of us were told that we need to study hard to achieve success. So we did. Whether we did this through academic or vocational courses, we bust our arses. Sometimes having to take more than one attempt to get there.

Then we hit the world of work and started to make an impression. Sometimes getting promoted, switching careers and a host of other things which eventually got us to where we are. All along this journey we built experience, won accolades, got pay rises, earned tremendous feedback from clients and partners - the receipts to use common parlance - and SOMEHOW, we are still thinking we are not good enough.

FUCK THAT. I MEAN SERIOUSLY WHAT GIVES?

I don't care what your background, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, ability or whatever. If you have the receipts, why are you there second guessing yourself. So a client cancelled or you missed out on a contract or a PhD speaker came and shared something technical that you didn't know. Boohoo. Cry me a frickin’ river. This is not the sum of your whole career!

OK let me be more empathetic. The fact is you are worth it.

Comparing ourselves to others is a worthless game, because in our eyes, there will always be someone better or doing different things. But, often that other person is you, through another person's eyes!

This is not to say we should all be arrogant and be willy waving or fanny flashing to everyone how marvellous we are. Or how we are a GURU, EXPERT or NINJA, whatever those sodding terms mean. But take stock of how far you have come and recognise this, if someone has asked you to partake at the table of success, it's because they believe you are worth it. Your experience, training, testimonials and client/patient/customer/delegate successes tell the story that you are worthy to be there.

You are no imposter. Unless you don't have the receipts, and then you are.

Go forward in 2019 and beyond and stop second guessing your brilliance. Surround yourself with honest people, who have no problem reminding you of the value you bring with your work, but also have no problem challenging you on being better and maximising your talent.

Honestly, fuck you, imposter syndrome. Ain't nobody got time for that.