Re-submitted:

Dear Robi:

You are welcome, thank you, and good to read from you again!

“I’m experiencing a lot of impostor syndrome and insecurities which suck up a lot of my energy so I often end up being emotionally tired… I keep feeling like I’m impersonating someone who knows what he’s doing“-

– from very well mind/ imposter syndrome and social anxiety: “Studies also suggest that people who come from families that experienced high levels of conflict with low amounts of support may be more likely to experience imposter syndrome… Entering a new role can trigger impostor syndrome. For example… when starting a new position at work…

”To move past these feelings, you need to become comfortable confronting some of the deeply ingrained beliefs you hold about yourself…  Talk to other people about how you are feeling… Make a realistic assessment of your abilities. Write down your accomplishments and what you are good at… Don’t focus on doing things perfectly, but rather, do things reasonably well and reward yourself for taking action… Question whether your thoughts are rational…  Don’t fight the feelings of not belonging. Instead, try to lean into them and accept them…

”No matter how much you feel like you are a fraud or that you don’t belong, don’t let that stop you from pursuing your goals. Keep going and refuse to be stopped…. Don’t be held back by your fear of being found out. Instead, lean into that feeling and get to its roots. Let your guard down and allow others to see the real you”.

Back to your post: “In the last years I’ve learned to be more accepting of myself… Teaching online makes it even more difficult but in the end I didn’t give up – I need the money… I haven’t even seen many of my friends or gone out drinking with them, the way I used to do in the past when I used to live here. This time I seem to have a different mindset – this time I’m more focused on my growth and my financial stability… I sat down with my anxiety and kept my eyes on the prize“-

– Change, Progress and Adulting: Robi growing up- becoming adult (part of the title of your thread), I am positively impressed!

“The one thing I’m really excited about is the arrival of my girlfriend on Thursday. She’ll be here for 10 days! I’m very happy about that… I seem to have grown a lot closer to my girlfriend, as if she’s both my best friend and partner. It all feels like home – in a really good way“- your girlfriend is your home, and it’s a very good thing!

“I’ve only been here for about 10 days but I feel like I’ve been here for months… Maybe I’m giving myself too much of a hard time, maybe I’m doing better than I think“- the Imposter Syndrome is indeed exhausting, taking a lot of your energy (like you stated in the beginning of your post), and time therefore feels longer.  And you are definitely doing better than you think (thinking that you are doing worse than you actually are is in the core of the Imposter Syndrome)

“I was thinking yesterday morning on the beach after finishing my meditation – ‘So what if I fail? Better fail than not even try ‘“- this is courage, Robi being Courageous!

anita