Tell me if you’ve been here before: You find yourself scrolling through your Instagram feed blowing past post after post of shiny, happy people out there in the world doing the things you want to be doing, looking the way you want to look, and bursting to the brim with creativity while you’re just sitting on the couch in yesterday’s yoga pants feeling nothing but stuck. Yeah, I’ve been there too! That’s why I’m teaching you my top 5 ways to overcome Imposter Syndrome in this blog post today!
The comparison game that comes with social media scrolling is REAL, y’all! Left unchecked, it can lead to anxiety, FOMO (fear of missing out), and negative self-talk. Those three bad boys combined create a nasty cocktail called Imposter Syndrome.
If you’ve never heard that term before, Imposter Syndrome is what happens when you start listening to that demon voice in your head telling you you’re a fraud who has no business showing up and will soon be found out by your peers and begin to doubt your accomplishments, skills, or talents. It can be downright demoralizing to deal with, but it doesn’t have to take over you completely. If you’re struggling with Imposter Syndrome, I got your back. Here is my tried and true method to overcome Imposter Syndrome that will help you get back to your best self and highest purpose!
NIP IT IN THE BUD:
We all follow that one IG account that kinda reminds us of Regina George from Mean Girls. You know what I’m talking about- her style is on point, she knows all of the best spots to hit up during happy hour, and her home could literally be featured in a magazine called “Your House Will Never Look This Put-Together Monthly”. One time she met John Stamos on a plane, and he told her she was pretty. You find yourself completely fascinated to the point where you want to be this person. And yet, every time they show up on your feed, you die a little inside and can’t help but feel that your best isn’t good enough.
If someone else’s account is making you question your self-worth, it’s important to step away immediately. You can do this by unfollowing them or even deleting the app off your device if you find it next to impossible NOT to check-in and see what they’re up to. You can always return to it once you’re in a better headspace, but until then, it’s best to pull this weed out from the roots and give yourself a much-needed break.
REMEMBER THAT YOU’RE NOT SEEING THE WHOLE TRUTH:
Social media sites like IG and Facebook are designed with *aesthetics* in mind. The more inspirational and aspirational your feed is, the more likely you are to stay on their sites scrolling your day away. Most of us know this on a subconscious level and therefore tend to only show the prettiest, most surface-level pieces of our lives. But is that little square photo telling you the whole story going on behind the camera? Absolutely not.
There’s no way of know how many hundreds of pics were taken to score that one incredible shot, or how many times that Insta-mom had to yell at her kids to just sit still for one more second so she could finally share all about their family vacation. You also don’t know how many hours went into that amazing craft or how much prep work went into that hilarious Reels video, so don’t assume that content creation comes easier to them than it does to you.
We all have our own unique stories worth sharing and our own thought-provoking ways to share them. Focus on leaning into what comes naturally to you. Are you great at taking flat-lay photos or writing funny captions that invite engagement? Aim your focus there and stop comparing yourself to what’s working for someone else. Remember, it might not have been as easy for them to hit “share” as you may think.
FIND YOUR PEOPLE OR BE YOUR PEOPLE:
You don’t need to have a massive following in order to have a devoted one, and chances are you’ve already got one within your close circle of friends. Talk out your feelings with the people you trust and will be all too ready to jump in and remind you just what kind of bad-ass you are!
If you’re not comfortable or ready to say these feelings out loud to someone else, try doing it for yourself. You know those cliche scenes in 90’s sitcoms where the pre-teen daughter is down on herself, so the mom makes her stand in front of a mirror and list off everything that she likes about herself? Call it corny, but it sure as hell works!
Take a moment to write down in your journal or sit quietly and name out loud your strengths and what makes you proud about yourself. You don’t have to be the all-time best at anything to be your best at something. Don’t be afraid to list off any challenges you’ve overcome in the past or obstacles you’ve been able to identify and are currently working through. Just hanging in there is a feat in and of itself, so you deserve to be celebrated for it! Go on, be your own cheerleader, and give yourself a pat on the back because you’re kind of a big deal!
TOOT YOUR OWN HORN:
Have a Facebook post that went viral in the past? Take a look at top-performing content and reshare your hard work to remind your followers (and yourself) that you’re here for a reason!
Nobody hits that follow button accidentally. I can promise you your audience decided to join you on your journey because they liked picking up what you’ve been putting down. Shouting out or resharing previous successes can be a great way to get back into the positive mindset you had when you first hit “post” and can even get some of your creative juices flowing again for new content creation.
REMINDER- WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS:
Nobody has it all together all of the time. Whenever you notice yourself comparing your pics to someone else’s professional-level photography or your beginner downward-facing dog to the yoga master’s, remember that no one is born knowing how to be the best at what they do (except for maybe Beyoncé).
It takes practice, which is just another way of saying it takes learning from your own mistakes. The person you’re comparing yourself to got better at what they do by first, well, kinda being bad at it. Nobody expects you to show up perfect, we just want you to show up. Don’t let your internalized fears hold you back from doing just that. Besides, the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. If you miss the shot, that’s ok! You’ve just learned how to fail forward and create even better content for next time.
Now that you have the tools to overcome Imposter Syndrome, grant yourself permission to get back to being your best, most beautiful self. It may take some time for you to get there, but by following these steps, I know you can overcome Imposter Syndrome and come out the other side better than before! If you’re looking for more inspiring content like this post, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter because I gotta tell ya, I am all about getting personal and sharing some weekly encouragement with you guys!
Until next time
-XO-
C
