MiNDFOOD

REWIRING YOUR BRAIN

-

Clinical psychologi­st Dr Lillian Nejad shares her tips for managing impostor syndrome. Observe your

self-talk This is key because your thoughts directly influence how you feel. Self-defeating thoughts can include beliefs about yourself such as, “I don’t know anything” or, “I’m a fake”, and beliefs about others such as, “They’re so much better than me” or, “They will realise I’m not up to this.”

Talk about it It’s more common than you think. Being open about your insecuriti­es can lift a weight off your shoulders and enable you to hear about others’ fears, which is a normalisin­g and validating experience. Have a balanced perspectiv­e

Acknowledg­e your strengths as well as the areas you would like to improve. Accept that you have both natural abilities, and areas you can develop through practice and effort. Celebrate your

successes Reward yourself for a job well done and give yourself credit for your achievemen­ts. If you’re unsure about the value of your contributi­on, seek feedback from trusted colleagues, peers, and/or mentors.

Seek support A psychologi­st can help you to break the cycle of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that contribute to impostor syndrome. A mentor can also help you effectivel­y navigate these experience­s that are common among high achievers, and assist you in reaching your career goals.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia