LSC #22: On impostors and laughter 🦹♀️🦹♂️
Hey there! Welcome back to the LifeScore Chronicles! Can you believe we've made it to edition #22? Quite a journey if you ask me!
In case you just landed here or have been forwarded this newsletter, expect to find some content on productivity, personal growth, health hacks, and interesting findings, always with a down-to-earth approach.
So, grab a coffee, a tea, whatever you like to drink, get comfortable, and let's get into it!
Today’s summary:
😹 Laughter as a medicine
🦹♂️ Impostor Syndrome
📚 Find books based on your mood
👥 Everyone is, in basic ways, very much like us
😹 Laughter as a medicine
Laughter itself cannot make a great relationship, but the lack of it can spoil one.
Let's kick off this newsletter with a gentle reminder: Life should always include a moderate amount of fun.
We typically spend 8 hours at work and another bunch of hours going through stuff that might not be super enjoyable, so if we can’t laugh about it and look at the brighter side of things… well, doesn’t sound right, does it?
That’s why it is so important to go through our lives carrying a bit of humor. Of course, this doesn't mean we have to be cracking jokes every minute. It's about finding joy in the little things and, more importantly, trying to make people around us happy.
As a friend once told me: Nobody likes sad people (that might be a bit too harsh but you get the feeling).
Let’s switch now to the main topic of the newsletter. And remember, sometimes, not taking things too seriously is the best solution!
🦹♂️ Impostor Syndrome
Having been in the job market for a while, and even with a list of achievements under the belt, I still struggle with impostor syndrome every time I step out of my comfort zone (even if it’s just a tiny step).
And it sucks.
Personally, impostor syndrome is a feeling I often face, and I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon. However, I’ve learned to recognize it and coexist with it.
And that's what today's newsletter is all about, because I believe it’s a shared feeling we all experience when stepping away from our common ground.
Although I don’t have a magic solution (trust me, I struggle with it too), I want to share some tips for dealing with it a bit better.
Are you ready?
1. Understand it's a mechanism of self-sabotage.
If we want to solve a problem, any problem, we need to understand its root, right?
Impostor syndrome is a way of self-sabotaging, with the only goal of keeping you in your comfort zone. That zone where nothing bad happens, but you also don't grow. This is how our brain works, trying to protect us from any damage (at the end of the day, that’s how we’re wired).
So, it's vital to accept that if we want to grow, there will always be some discomfort involved.
Think of a caterpillar. To become a butterfly, there's a whole process of metamorphosis and internal changes involved. It's a transformational journey where growth requires stretching beyond our comfort zone.
If you're not keen on the caterpillar (uh, bugs), think about the seed-to-flower process. It involves a transformational journey of growth, stretching roots, and pushing through layers of soil. Or consider how a block of clay, through shaping and molding, becomes a sculpture, symbolizing our potential for transformation and growth.
Alright, I think you get the picture, right?
2. Use mantras to reinforce positive thoughts.
This is a classic approach I use for different things (from sports to meditation).
Assuming impostor syndrome resides in your head and how it makes you feel has to do with the way you think about yourself, a good idea to fight it is by using positive affirmations.
Of course, what works for me might not work for you, but here are some affirmations I use, in case they resonate with you:
"The only thing I can lose is time"
"Effort matters more than outcome"
"I am only affected by my own thoughts"
“I already have everything I need"
"A challenge is an opportunity to grow and improve"
3. Keep all your positive feedback
Honestly, this one has helped me a lot, as it somehow helps me see the rational part of things.
Let’s start with the fact that I am not particularly well-trained to deal with positive feedback (not gonna blame my dad here but hey, thanks Dad!). So whenever a good piece of feedback comes my way, I always try to take it with a pinch of salt and look for the other side.
Anyway, since I started this newsletter, I've been collecting unsolicited positive feedback. Do I look at it often? Nope, but it helps tame my inner negative voice.
4. Challenge your mindset
Alright, let’s imagine we’re in the middle of an impostor syndrome spiral, questioning everything about our value and capability of dealing with a specific project.
It’s just now when you need to stop and ask yourself questions like these (of course, adapted to your specific situation):
What's stopping me from doing it?
Why am I doubting myself now?
What would I prefer: doing it with fear or not doing it?
If everyone else believes in me, why don't I?
What's the worst that can happen? (this is the main question you need to ask yourself)
Anyway, to sum it up, remember that everything passes and is momentary: the good and the bad. Impostor syndrome will also fade away.
And if it doesn’t… well, that would mean you’re growing, so keep it up!
👥 Everyone is, in basic ways, very much like us
And to add a visual element to the discussion on impostor syndrome, here's a fantastic video from The School of Life. I'm a big fan of their educational content; it's so well-designed and animated.
Basically, it comes to say that what often holds us back from feeling confident at work is a sense that we're fundamentally different from those who succeed. However, in reality, everyone shares basic similarities, meaning there's nothing stopping us from achieving success.
📚 Find books based on your mood
To shift gears a bit and finish this edition on a different note, I'd like to introduce you to a cool tool, especially for all the book lovers out there: Books By Mood.
As the name suggests, it's a nice and sweet AI-powered platform designed to help you discover books based on your mood. As simple as that. You input your mood, and the tool provides recommendations tailored to match it. Each recommendation comes with a link to purchase the book, a brief summary, and an explanation of why it would match your mood.
So far, I've already added two new books to my reading list, not bad!
📊 Data Dive
And with this, we’ve reached the end of this #LSC. To close it, as always, a little look at some numbers:
248 Subscribers → Last week we were 241, we keep growing!
1 Unsubscribed → Finally a good week here.
59% Open rate → A bit below the 60-70% goal, no bueno!
Also, I'd love your help spreading the word about the LSC to those who haven't discovered it yet because exciting things are on the horizon, and they won't want to miss out, right?
Here are some ways you can help:
Forward this e-mail to a few friends
Share the link on your Social Media profiles.
Tweet about it or share it on your Slack
Simply tell your friends or coworkers about it
Thank you so much!
And keep an eye out for the next LifeScore Chronicles—something exciting is just around the corner. 🚀
Until next week, stay safe and healthy!