Are you an imposter?

Reframing imposter syndrome

March 14, 2022

Hey there —

"I’m not good enough."

"What gives me the right to be here?"

"Everyone else knows more."

No matter how far you’ve come, this kind of self-doubt rarely ever goes away. And for that, you can thank imposter syndrome – the common phenomenon where you doubt your abilities and live in constant fear of being “outed” as a fraud.

Imposter syndrome blindsides us with fear and anxiety, and often holds us back from going after great opportunities.

But what if you could use imposter syndrome to your advantage?

Sounds crazy, we know. But everything in life is a matter of perspective. And, in this case, you can reframe your thinking to focus on opportunities instead of obstacles.

Shahed Khan, the co-founder of Loom, uses “Upside Down reframing” to turn imposter syndrome’s limiting beliefs into encouraging mantras.

For example:

✖️ "I was just lucky." → ✔️ "I engineered serendipity."
✖️ "I’m not good enough." → ✔️ "I’m never done learning."
✖️ "I doubt myself." → ✔️ "I’m excited to prove myself wrong."
✖️ "Everyone else knows more." → ✔️ "I have the most to gain."

If we shift our perspective, we can learn to work with our imposter syndrome rather than against it. And really, it’s ok to have imposter syndrome since it’s a sign that you’re taking on unfamiliar opportunities ripe with the potential for growth.

It also means you don’t take your success for granted.

And if you cultivate gratitude and humility you’ll never be labeled a fraud.

The 7 Types of Rest That Every Person Needs

Article | by Saundra Dalton-Smith MD

Sleep and rest aren’t the same things. This is why after sleeping eleven hours you can wake up feeling even groggier.

We assume “a good night’s sleep” is the antidote to fatigue, but in reality, there are several key areas in our life that need restoration.

Incapable of coming up with new ideas? You need creative rest. Zapped from too much TikTok? Get some sensory rest. Exhausted by social interactions? You probably have a social rest deficit.

“Sleep alone can’t restore us to the point we feel rested. So it’s time for us to begin focusing on getting the right type of rest we need.”

Productivity Advice

Newsletter | by Slava Akhmechet

We know, we know. Another article on productivity? Don’t worry, this is a reallyyyy good one.

Software developer Slava Akhmechet has productivity advice you need to hear – we should see productivity as a process of elimination, not addition.

Rather than tinkering with the latest apps, timers, Notion templates, or to-do lists, strip away the distractions, and do the work. Turn off the internet. Set a timer. Get bored. And then get to it.

Freestyle Vinyl

Tool | by David and Ryan

Frustrated by the takeover of digital music? Then Freestyle Vinyl was made for you.

This company, founded by two music-loving brothers, helps turn your Spotify or Apple playlists into sleek vinyl records.

It’s a bit pricey, but if you’re looking for a unique gift idea, a custom vinyl record is definitely a solid start.

Written by Alice Lemée