You Are More Than the Voice in Your Head

Ever wondered if there's more to you than the incessant chatter in your mind? Let's delve into the depths of self-perception, exploring the concept that our identity extends beyond the internal monologue we often mistake for our true selves.

Imposter syndrome affects people of all ages and gender identities

One of the major causes of this feeling is a “fear of failure,” and it is often experienced more among first-generation professionals like me.

• When I was an individual contributor, I thrived – in part because I had so much autonomy and control over my work
• I prioritized my daily tasks, learned my strengths and weaknesses, and quickly recovered from missteps.
• In the new role, many of the things that brought me comfort would be out of my control.

Share your thoughts with a trusted confident or advisor

Having an advisor significantly sped up the process, and gave me confidence when I needed it most

• We spoke about my experiences, what I had learned over the years, and how I could use each of the skills I named to help my team thrive

What would [name] do?”

Think about someone you admire and ask yourself what they would do under pressure

• You can be your own best counsel by taking a few moments to reflect and think about how you would react if faced with a challenging situation
• Rich, my first-ever boss, and Sue, my current supervisor
• This has gotten me out of some sticky situations

Find a way to tame your inner critic

Name it to tame it

• Journal
• Focus on self-compassion instead of self-criticism
• Being a leader would definitely be new, but it would also be a perfect opportunity to learn and grow
• “The thought of supervising others makes me anxious and afraid. But I’m also excited.”

Focus on who you want to be

One way to overcome the fear of failure or that “internal experience of intellectual phoniness” is to focus on what matters to you in the long term

• Self-doubt is normal
• Your actions speak louder than the voice in your head
• A new role is an opportunity to learn and grow

Hit the pause button and breathe

Intentional breathing really works

• Getting extra oxygen in your system can reduce the production of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your body by as much as 50% in 10 minutes
• Research shows that people use less than 25% of their lungs’ capacity
• Taking a deep breath in your belly and a long, slow exhale is sometimes all you need

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