Stop IMPoster!

All month long in March, Social Workers everywhere celebrate our profession of helping, advocacy, and progression of humanity. With the year, we have hadIf we were honest though, there are moments that almost every social worker doesn't feel essential. We may feel inadequate, ill-equipped and even like a fraud. How do I know? Well, because I combat those same thoughts. I have taught social work students that express many of the same sentiments. I coach rising clinicians and mental health practitioners who doubt their abilities.

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March is Social Work Month!
...and this year's theme is
"Social Workers are Essential."

Sometimes, You may not always feel essential....

These thoughts and feelings align with the term called "Imposter Syndrome". It is defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. 'Imposters' suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraudulence that override any feelings of success or external proof of their competence, according to the Harvard Business Review.  I recently had moments where my "impostering" tried to overcome me. I was sitting at a "virtual" table with other practitioners who I admire giving feedback about ways to enhance services in our field. I found myself thinking of who else instead of me should be sharing their ideas, discrediting my ability, accomplishments and insight all at the same time. I compared my career, my practice history to those who I believed were more worthy of this opportunity. These thoughts led to the impostering that I believe plagues many of us. Once you recognize the signs, try out a few tips below to put that impostering in its place: 

Here are 3 ways I personally combat imposter syndrome that seems to show up at the most inopportune times:

1. Be Kind to Yourself: Cut yourself some slack. You are not the only one who has ever felt this way. We all find ourselves minimizing the value we bring sometimes.
2.  Your Steps are Ordered: Promotion comes from the Lord according to the Bible. He's positioned you and equips you. Realizing that God sent you inspires humility and not inadequacy. It inspires God-reliance and Gratitude.  Thank You Lord for sending me.
3. It's Not About You: What if you are where you are for someone else? Your skills, talent and hardwork brought you into this space for not just you. YOU WERE CHOSEN to show others His Glory. You are there to be a solution, an example, an inspiration to someone else.   This particular achievement is definitely not about you. You are great for the people you serve!

 Can you think of any other ways to stop that IMPOSTERing in its tracks?

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