,
26 tweets,
6 min read
Read on Twitter
Hey everyone! It’s @blyons619 with the CBR Knowledge Translation team! We’re about to get started in LSC1 for @ValerieYoung ‘s presentation on #ImposterSyndrome. It’s looking like a full house! @UBCGradSchool 
We have a range of audience members - grad students, faculty, staff... “The imposter syndrome is known as the Imposter Phenomenon within the field of psychology.”
“The definition of the imposter phenomenon: This secret belief that deep down you are truly not as capable and intelligent as people think you are”..”Despite concrete evidence of your achievements.”
“We attribute our success to luck, timing, simplicity. If I can do it, anyone can do it.” “Well, I had connections.. or it’s just because they like me.”
“We have to be incredibly creative to come up with these reasons” that lead us to feel like an imposter.
“Just being a student makes you much more likely to identify with imposter feelings.” Graduate students even more so.
Valerie is telling us about how at UC Berkeley there is a row of parking spots reserved for Nobel Laureates. “Imagine being an associate professor having to drive by that every day.” “We are in fields that contribute to our imposter feelings.”
“Women are more likely compared to men to underestimate themselves.” “Women are more likely to blame themselves, whereas men are more likely to blame other factors.”
“No one likes to fail, no one likes to be wrong...” “but when any of those things happen to people who feel like imposters, we feel shame.” “If I was really intelligent, competent, talented and qualified then I should/never/always..”
Our group’s “Unrealistic unsustainable competence rulebook”! #ImposterSyndrome
One that resonated with the crowd: “I’d always feel excited about my experiments”
Clarify your pattern.
What is your pattern? Flying under the radar, procrastination, self-sabotage, over preparing. “Understand how your pattern serves you.”
“The good news is that these patterns work.” .. “That bad news: they work.”
“You cannot share your way out of imposter syndrome.” .. “up to 70% of high achievers have these feelings at one point in their lives.”
Normalize imposter syndrome. “Instead of having an imposter life, have an imposter moment.”
“The only way to stop feeling like an imposter is to stop thinking like an imposter.”
“Reframe failure, mistakes” ..”no one wins them all.”
One thing that a lot of us fear: “Constructive criticism is a gift.”
“Non imposters know that everything doesn’t have to be perfect, ‘smart’ is overrated, and the key is to not know with confidence. They don’t feel shame. They know no one excels at everything.”
“The first draft of everything is not going to be as good as the last.” “The more you do anything the better you’ll get.” “Wise people seek help, advice, and feedback.”
“Keep going regardless of how confident you feel.” Don’t say “well, I’ll try when I feel more confident.”
“Now the only people who are going to read your dissertation is your mother, and your committee. And even your committee is iffy.”
“On some level, you know you’re not an imposter.” .. “Enjoy your moments of brilliance and forgive yourself when you have moments of weakness.”
“I am burdened by a great potential” - Linus (Charlie Brown)
And that’s it!! Thank you @ValerieYoung from @CBR_UBC for your insightful words and encouragement. Thanks to @UBCGradSchool and UBC Wellness Centre for organizing this event. #impostersyndrome #graduates #scicomm
