More than 70% of us feel like pretenders; we feel like everyone around us has their life together while we continue to swing and miss. My guest today on The Workplace Therapist Show, Dr. Carolyn Goerner, has gone great lengths to combat imposter syndrome, including trying out for Broadway! While the feelings of imposter syndrome never fully go away, we can give such thoughts less power. We can learn to embrace our authentic self! On the podcast, Carolyn shares her three steps to do just that.

Dive In:

05:00 “Everyone else had their life together and I was the odd ball out.” Hear why Carolyn is so invested in addressing imposter syndrome.

07:30 What does imposter syndrome cost us? 1 – We play small. 2 – It’s a source of procrastination. 3 – It keeps us from trying to learn new things.

09:20 Book mention: The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Valerie Young

11:00 Carolyn explains the spotlight effect: “We show less empathy to others when we feel insecure ourselves.”

12:30 How do we combat imposter syndrome? We have to talk about it… with someone who realistically knows us.

16:00 “Vulnerability: we think of it as a weakness, but being vulnerable is one of the strongest things we can do.” – Carolyn

19:30 So – does this feeling ever go away? No, but the feelings become less powerful. Carolyn shares three steps for combatting imposter syndrome: 1 – Write about it. 2 – Talk about it. 3 – Join a support group.

22:30 Carolyn quotes ‘Let It Go’ singer Idina Menzel: if she’s singing 90% of everything right, she needs to be singing something harder. “Just try it.”

24:00 Carolyn’s “time on Broadway”.

27:00 Brandon and Carolyn discuss moving back in-person from virtual.

29:30 How does your environment impact you?

32:00 Carolyn’s Life Hack: “Stop crossing things off your to-do list. Instead, highlight them.”

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