Happy Sunday everyone! If you’re a consistent viewer then welcome back and if you’re new, I’m so glad you’re here! This week I’m going back to my usual formatting where I chat about a topic/something I am experiencing personally. And obviously from the title, you know the topic is imposter syndrome. If you don’t know what imposter syndrome is, it’s the feeling that you’re not as competent or knowledgeable as others believe you to be. If you’re a visual learner like me, it looks a little something like this:
This imposter syndrome has become more prevalent as I’ve progressed in graduate school. You would think that would make me feel more confident, since I’m gaining knowledge. But as I get closer to my practicum and internship courses, I get more and more nervous. I guess it’s just scary to think about doing adult things when you still feel like a kid in a way. Let’s face it though, I turn 23 in 4 days so I can’t pull that card anymore. I think we all go through this feeling at some point in our lives. We’re having to make that shift whether we’re ready or not.
One way to help curb imposter syndrome is to think of your long term goals. For me, it’s wanting to be successful in my career because I want to help Nick in supporting us financially. We’ve been able to pay for the things we need, but I want us to be able to do fun and exciting things without worrying too much about the cost. In addition, I have some (A LOT) student loans under my belt, so it would be nice to start paying those off. They say money doesn’t buy happiness, but the lack of it is certainly stressful. Having my goals in mind provides me with the motivation and determination to accomplish my career aspirations. It also helps to know that I will really enjoy what I want to do, I just have to get there first. With every big girl/boy job, you have to first LEARN how to be successful, you don’t step into it and know how to do every little thing on day one. Then once you get into the routine, you’ll feel more comfortable and confident in what you’re doing.
For these blog posts, I always pick inspirational words of the week that go along with that topic. The quote I picked is by Eleanor Roosevelt. She said: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say ‘I loved through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ ” This quote is perfect because its a reminder that when I gain experience in what I want to do, I will also gain more confidence. Even though I’ve always struggled with confidence, remembering this quote and my goals will help me push onward. So if you are like me and in a new stage of life. Let’s not be scared or nervous, let’s remember our purpose and tackle our worries day by day. We know more than we think we do!
Kindly,
Ken
kindly, ken 