Are you able to just kind of socialize and get involved in stuff without as many second thoughts? Or make and share stuff with less of an imposter syndrome or whatever you might call it when you’re uncomfortable being associated with your work?
Or is it like so many things, where it kind of depends on how things are going that day?
Depends. I did manage to build a positive self-image, but I’m still an introvert. Occasionally I jump right into things or manage social situations smoothly, sometimes I hesitate and sometimes it’s awkward. I don’t suffer from imposter syndrome anymore though, in fact I tend to do things I literally don’t know how to do and learn while doing them, and that feels great.
I’m pretty much also in the boat so thanks for writing out a lot of what I was already thinking, lol.
I absolutely do have some imposter syndrome but what I’ve chosen to do about it is be completely open with others about having it (I don’t advise this if you’re a doctor or something like that, I’m in a creative-and-thereby-totally-subjective field). I found that being open about it or anxieties has in turn made others more open in turn, and it’s made the nagging voice in the back of my head a lot quieter.
My best advice for you OP is to learn to really, truly forgive yourself. For little blunders or whatever else, learning to not beat myself up over mistakes or embarrassment was life-changing in terms of being able to curate a sunnier attitude toward my own self.