To overcome impostor syndrome, we need to stop looking outside at what other people are posting and start focusing on our own strengths and achievements. Here are a few tips:
1. Remember that everyone is also human
The people you follow on social media are not perfect, they have editing and filtering apps, they also have hardships and bad days, and maybe they also feel inadequate sometimes.
2. Spend less time on social media
Set an alarm to limit the time you spend scrolling through social media, for example set a timer for 30 minutes and stop as soon as the alarm rings.
3. Be grateful
Spend some time reading about gratitude from the great master Thich Nhat Hanh, for example “Touching peace: practicing the art of mindful living”. Every day, make a list of three things that you are grateful for: they can be as simple as being able to breathe and having clean water to drink.
4. Post more authentic content about yourself
Instead of highly curated pictures of external beauty and possessions that may make other people feel subpar, sometimes you can share a difficulty you are experiencing or a photo that is not flattering of you.
5. Follow more meaningful content creators
Stop following people who make you feel bad about yourself, and instead follow more inspiring accounts (mindfulness and meditation, motivational speakers, self-care) or consume positive content such as Are You a Potato? – a funny animation created by RMIT Vietnam students to help others overcome impostor syndrome.
Story by: Dr Lena Bucatariu, Lecturer in Professional Communication, School of Communication & Design, RMIT Vietnam