Strategies for Conquering Writer's Doubt Syndrome
Conquer impostor syndrome, no matter your career path. It's a sneaky breed, rooted in mindset, habits, and a lacking focus on the important things in life. Once it worms its way into your life, be it as a ghostwriter, attorney, artist, teacher, or anything in between, it's crucial to first acknowledge it, reframe it, and then sweep it aside. Here's a guide to help you recognize that impostor syndrome, transform it into something that benefits you instead of holding you back.
I'll be focusing on impostor syndrome as a writer, but these strategies apply to whichever profession you love. Just replace this task, hobby, or industry as you read along.
Alter Your Thought Patterns
Your mindset holds a significant influence, as we become what we tell ourselves. If you label yourself as a victim, you'll never be a victor. If you call yourself a terrible writer, well, you're going to be a terrible writer. It's simple as that—the way you speak to yourself sets you up for success or failure.
Take a look at your self-talk. Is it saying things such as "I'm not a good writer"? Imagine if someone talked to you that way. Would you berate a child for something they enjoy doing? Flip your mindset and start praising yourself, telling yourself "I'm an exceptional writer!"
Inspect Your Accolades
No matter how hard you try convincing yourself of your greatness, it can still be tough to shake off those self-doubt moments. Don't fret; even the best generative AI programs don't suffer from insecurities because they don't have feelings. When those uncomfortable feelings pop up, take a step back and examine what others have said.
Create a Praise File—a physical or digital file where you store compliments, praises, and positive feedback about your work. Whenever you have those self-doubt moments, open that file up. Remind yourself of the glowing reviews, the encouraging texts from friends, and the enthusiastic comments on your social media posts. Notice that you can't please everyone—lean into those who appreciate your work.
Keep Writing
Impostor syndrome can make you want to throw in the towel. The best defense when you feel like you're not good enough? Keep writing. Keep moving forward and continuously improving is the key to continued growth.
To paraphrase three-time Olympian leader Kara Lynn Joyce, "Action is the antidote to doubt." If you feel like you're not good enough, then keep writing, and your diligence will eventually pay off.
Find Your Tribe
There are countless groups out there—some filled with braggarts and others brimming with genuine individuals. Seek out those who share your experiences, offer support, and constructive feedback. You're not alone in this. Share your work, ask for reviews, and benefit from those who will help you improve your craft. Save those praises in your Praise File for when you need a little boost.
Document Your Progression
Remember those doorways you'd stand in on your birthday and have your parents mark your height on the door jamb? You can't look at yourself daily and remark, "Wow, I'm bigger than yesterday!" even though you're continually growing. The same goes for your writing. Today's work will look a lot like yesterday's work; but, over time, you can look back at previous writings and cringe at how much you've improved.
Laugh at your past work—it means you've grown, matured, and come a long way from who you used to be. Use that as a reminder that impostor syndrome is a liar, and you are fantastic.
Imperfection is Inevitable
Vince Lombardi once said, "Perfection is unattainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." Embrace this philosophy and aspire to perfection; just remember that it's unreachable. Instead, you'll achieve excellence—never settling for good enough, always striving to be the best.
Hold on to Your Routine
Remember my recent post on crafting a writing routine? Lean into that routine when you feel like you're not good enough. Impostor syndrome is trying to wear you down until you quit. But if you have a routine to fall back on, you know that you have a purpose, and you have gathered momentum, even when you don't feel like it.
Embrace the routine and find strength in the small, consistent actions. It may light the spark of creativity and refocus your mindset.
Find Triumph in Small Victories
Part of that routine includes setting achievable goals for yourself. Maybe it's writing for just 30 minutes, maybe you aim for 500 words, or perhaps it's writing 3 social media posts. These small goals will help you reach your objectives, give you the satisfaction you desire, and motivate you to keep going.
Ultimately, though, if you start to question whether you enjoy writing, consider seeking help from a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter collaborates with you, taking your words, your story, and transforming them into a book. I like to say, "I take care of the hard stuff, leaving you with all the praise."
If you've had enough of writing and are ready to complete that book, book an appointment with me to discuss your next steps.
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Additional Insights:
- Mindset and Emotional Intelligence: Understanding the power of your mindset and developing emotional intelligence can help you manage the feelings associated with impostor syndrome. Regularly practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation, to strengthen your mindfulness muscles[5].
- Healthy Self-Criticism: A healthy dose of self-criticism is important for self-improvement. Recognize that self-doubt is an opportunity for growth and use it as a motivator to strive for perfection. Discover what works best for you to combat impostor syndrome, such as adopting a growth mindset, seeking feedback, and engaging in self-compassion practices[1][3][6].
- Empowering Beliefs: Challenge those negative thoughts and replace them with empowering beliefs. Develop mantras focused on confidence, resilience, and self-worth to remind yourself of your abilities[1][3][6].
- Comparisons: Avoid comparing yourself to others. Remember that you are unique, and your journey and successes are different. Instead, focus on becoming the best version of yourself[2][6].
- Modeling Role Models: Find mentors or role models who embody the mindset and success you aspire to. Learn from their experiences, strategies, and adapt their wisdom to your own life and career[1][6].
To further enhance your personal growth and mental health, incorporate science and education in your journey to overcome impostor syndrome. Engage in reading books on psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy to acquire knowledge on the mechanisms of self-doubt and strategies for self-improvement. This education-and-self-development will equip you with the tools to reframe your thoughts and challenge limiting beliefs.
Likewise, integrate health-and-wellness practices into your daily routine. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep have positive effects on your overall well-being and help reduce stress, improve focus, and boost confidence. The combination of science, education, and self-care will collaborate in fostering a mindset of resilience and accomplishment, assisting you in your pursuit of personal-growth and succumbing to the grips of impostor syndrome.
