Imposter syndrome + how to handle it as a freelance writer
Imposter syndrome (AKA the feeling of being underqualified for the position you’re in or want to be in) affects most people, regardless of the level of success they’ve achieved.
So how do you even begin to combat that kind of persistent insecurity?
In this episode, we talk about our personal experiences of imposter syndrome and how we’ve learned to move through the debilitating feelings of inadequacy. Despite our years as successful freelance writers, we still have days where we feel like phonies.
This episode is for anyone who wants to find ways to temper the pattern of constant comparison.
Constant comparison: a downward spiral
Especially in the age of social media, Imposter Syndrom is often born from seeing highlight reels of other peoples’ lives on any one of the current social media platforms.
Falling into the trap of comparing yourself to others and the insecurity that follows usually looks something like the following:
You notice what people in your field are posting on social media and think, “I’m falling behind. Why am I not doing as much as they are? Why can’t I get it together?”
A client asks you to do a project and the first thought you have is, “I don’t think I’m the right person to do this project. Someone else could do it better.”
You hear about an opportunity you would have liked to have, like being a speaker for a panel discussion, but no one reached out to you to ask.
Most people have experienced at least one of these three scenarios. The tricky thing about imposter syndrome is that by its very nature it assumes the person experiencing it is surrounded by those who are not imposters. In reality, those people likely suffer from some form of imposter syndrome too. Keeping that in mind can be a helpful way to dislodge the fear that you’re the only one who feels a lack of confidence in your abilities.
“I feel like less of an imposter than ever with my client work, especially as time has gone by and I’ve narrowed down on my specialties. But I feel it more when I'm in the company of people doing similar things.”
Combatting imposter syndrome: confidence, experience, and just showing up
When you catch yourself playing the comparison game, take a step back and ask yourself why you care. Is it because you want to do what the other person is doing or because you want to have the image of success the other person is projecting?
“When you look at others, it makes you second guess the path you’re on.”
As fairly seasoned freelance writers who own our businesses, we’ve found that one of the best ways to counteract the insecurity of imposter syndrome is to let your work speak for itself.
In moments of doubt, rather than relying on your brain to tell you what you can and can’t do, try basing your expectations of yourself on the work you’ve already done and the clients you’ve already pleased. Keep a ‘good vibes’ folder on your computer filled with positive feedback to look at on your bad days.
“If a client has come to you, it’s because they believe you can do the work.”
Our other tried and true methods for lessening the feeling of inadequacy and de-legitimacy involve confidence (either real or feigned), experience (time helps), and just showing up. Confidence comes with experience, and you might have to wing it in the beginning. Over time you will settle into your role and establish the processes and workflows that work best for you.
“If you keep an open mind and always take steps towards improving, those tiny wins will add up. You’ll soon realize you know a lot about what you’re doing.”
The truth is that it’s normal to feel like you don’t belong in the position you’re in sometimes. The trick is to not let that stop you from moving forward. Show up every day even if you don’t feel like you can. Over time, it’ll pay off. And while you probably won't ever completely rid yourself of imposter syndrome, you'll create an unwelcome space for it to linger.