Feeling Like an Imposter? 5 Tips to Boost your Confidence
Have you ever had those feelings of doubt, unsure of your abilities and contributions, wondering how you got to where you are and hoping that nobody notices you don’t know what you’re doing? This has gotten a lot of attention lately and is known as imposter syndrome. Essentially, your confidence has taken a hit. It has actually taken many, many small hits that you may not have noticed until you ended up feeling like an imposter. Outwardly you appear strong and successful though inwardly you are scared and insecure.
“I know I’m knowledgeable, capable, etc.” you affirm to yourself but something deep inside you doesn’t quite believe it. How did this happen? You weren’t always this way. Somewhere along the way you started to listen to criticism and became your own worst critic. Here are 5 tips on how to boost your confidence:
1. Stop comparing yourself to others! There is only one you. Only one person with your unique perspective. You are the only person who knows everything about you. You also do not know everything about others. You don’t know what their fears are, what they struggle with. Most people will only show you the wonderful life they’ve constructed for social media. It is a façade. It is not real. Every one of us struggles in some way. Maybe that person you admire for their wealth is living on credit. You just never know.
2. Pay attention to how you speak to yourself. When you catch yourself being extra critical, stop the thought and change the dialogue. We are often far more critical of ourselves than we are of others. How often have you berated yourself for dropping something or making a mistake? You’d likely never say those same things to someone else. Give yourself some grace and be kind to yourself. You will be amazed at how quickly you get a boost when you stop the negative chatter to yourself. Becoming aware of it is the first step to changing it. Soon you’ll be cheering yourself on instead of putting yourself down. Who doesn’t feel better when you hear cheers and praise?
3. Surround yourself with positive people. This goes hand in hand with how you speak to yourself. When you surround yourself with people who find the upside to everything, and who are naturally less critical, you become less critical. You will notice more of the positive aspects over the negative. When you focus on the positive, you feel better, and that leads to more positive self-talk and more confidence.
4. Movement! It is a known fact that exercise creates endorphins. Endorphins are the “feel good” hormones in our system. You don’t have to hit the gym for hours, unless that excites you. It could be going for a walk, dancing in your kitchen, or hitting the yoga mat, whatever you enjoy. Not only does this stimulate the production of endorphins flooding your system, it also gets your energy moving. This provides a lightness to how you feel. When you feel good, you stand taller and your confidence gets a natural boost.
5. Take some time out for yourself. Some may call this self-care. It can be anything that is just for you and makes you feel better. Is it a day at the spa? A walk in nature? Reading a good book? Spending time on a hobby you love? There are so many options. It is whatever gets you out of that frenzied, overwhelmed feeling and into a feeling of calm. Our lives are hectic with many external demands that can make us lose sight of ourselves. This not only drains our energy but it can drain our confidence. Giving yourself the opportunity to regenerate not only restores your energy levels, it allows you to better handle the responsibilities in your life and also gives your confidence a boost. Take time for yourself! It’s so important I had to say it twice!
Get in touch with the greatness within you. Trust me, it’s there!