Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough? I know I do. Like many freelancers, I suffer with impostor syndrome; the general sense that I’m not worthy of the work I do. I’m good at believing in myself with the benefit of hindsight. The projects I’ve already done have gone well, and I’m confident I worked to a high standard. But when those very same projects were in the future, they were full of disaster. I’d be out of my depth. The clients would be unhappy. I’d never get hired again.
It’s something I’m taking steps to address, because it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. I’ve had some cognitive behavioural therapy, and I have my first counselling session next week. But there’s an easier step I’m also taking: listening to what people are actually saying instead of what I’m imagining.
I’ve received some lovely feedback during the ten months that Well-Tempered Proof has been running. I’ve printed some of the comments and stuck them on a board in my office.
Whenever my anxiety’s getting too much, my inner denouncer too loud, I spend a few minutes looking at the facts. It keeps the fiction manageable and reminds me that I can do the job, and do it well. I only started proofreading after taking the required training, and I continue to update my skillset. I enjoy the work, and I’ve had lovely interactions with my clients.
Do you struggle with your inner monologue? What steps do you take to believe in yourself? Get in touch and let me know!
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