Assignment begins below. Please take the course of your week to complete. If it takes you longer, that is okay. Be patient with yourself as you thoughtfully think through it all.
Goal
Imposter Syndrome: yes, we did talk about this before in week 11. That was a long time ago and quite honestly…we could talk about it every single week and still only scratch the surface!
It just so happens that as I type this, we are headed to the first ever Renegade Lifestyle Getaway and the topic is…drum roll please…IMPOSTER SYNDROME! So it is heavy on my mind right now and I don’t want to miss a thing with you.
Revisit this with me. Imposter syndrome is defined as “the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills.” (Oxford Online Dictionary). During week 11, we asked you to list two origins of your own examples of imposter syndrome in your own life with a little space under them. Go back to that now and under each bullet point, write about how these origins have affected you over your lifetime. Is there a way to change this thought process? Be honest with yourself.
Identify
Last week, we talked about putting yourself first. Can you identify spaces where imposter syndrome may have caused you to put yourself LAST? Are there areas where you are fighting tooth and nail to stay on top of that are a direct result of you not having time for you? Make a list of those. Don’t judge the list. Just be honest with yourself about it. Begin to acknowledge where you are in a nonjudgmental way. Once done, study it. Begin to write out solutions to each area.
***Example: I realize that work emails me after hours and I check my phone constantly. Imposter syndrome makes me feel like if I don’t respond right away, my colleagues will assume that I don’t really qualify for this position and so I find myself working all day after I’ve left work and on my off days. To solve this, I’m going to talk to my management team and let them know that I’ll no longer check email on off days and after hours. I’ll respond when I return to the work at 9 am.
Affirmation
I commit to myself. Starting today, I will no longer put myself last. I’m FIRST on the priority list!
Open your meditation app and pick a 10 minute meditation that you can repeat this mantra to yourself with. When your mind wanders, connect with your breath and bring yourself back to yourself.