Imposta? Basta!

Impostor

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The Rustle Up! – 11 – Imposta? Basta!
Rustle & Spark

So many people reached out to me after I shared my story-based journaling practice that I wanted to offer another tip—this one especially powerful if you’ve ever wrestled with impostor syndrome.

Here’s the strange thing about impostor syndrome: everybody gets it, and yet everybody thinks they’re the only one. You’ve probably had the experience where someone says to you, “How could you possibly feel like an impostor? You’re amazing.” Or maybe you’ve said the same thing to someone else.

The truth is, that nagging voice in our head is universal. But there’s a journaling strategy that helps inoculate you against it. This tip comes from Dr. Emmett Brown.

Here’s how it works: in your journal, you write as your future self, coming back to reassure your present self. Instead of saying, “Here’s what I hope for,”—which leaves space for that inner critic to whisper, “That’ll never happen”—your future self speaks with certainty:

  • “You nailed this.”

  • “It went so much better than you thought.”

  • “Here’s the good thing you didn’t see coming.”

We spend so much energy worrying about unseen misfortunes, but there are just as many unseen fortunes that find their way to us. Your future self can tell you about them—the lucky break you didn’t anticipate, the opportunity that carried you farther than you ever dreamed.

The practice is simple: when you journal, don’t just write as your present self. Write as your future self, sending a message back to let you know how it all works out—and how it’s even better than you expected.

How do I overcome impostor syndrome?

Why don't reassurances from other people (like "You're amazing") actually cure impostor syndrome?

How journaling from the future help beat impostor syndrome

 
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