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Comparing ourselves to others seems almost instinctive, but this natural tendency has turned toxic in an environment flooded with curated highlight reels and scarce professional recognition. Our constant need to measure up undermines our confidence, feeds self-doubt, and shifts our focus from personal fulfillment to unattainable external validation.

Believing in our own potential is critical to advancing our careers, but sometimes we need to borrow that belief from people who see our strengths more clearly than we do. By embracing their belief, we can challenge ourselves, take risks, and develop the confidence that ultimately allows us to trust our own abilities. Borrowed belief can get us started, but our long-term success depends on transforming that borrowed belief into genuine self-confidence.

The real world does not reward perfection; it rewards those of us who are brave enough to take risks, embrace mistakes, and keep moving forward. We have been conditioned to believe that success comes from striving for flawlessness, but in reality, this mindset holds us back, fueling procrastination, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt. By letting go of the impossible standards we place on ourselves, we can focus on progress over perfection and build careers that reflect our tru

Imposter syndrome can cause us to doubt our level of competence despite clear evidence of our skills and achievements, and not surprisingly, this can disproportionately affect high-achieving women in male-dominated fields. It manifests as feelings of fraudulence, overworking to compensate, and reluctance to acknowledge success, often leading to unnecessary credential-seeking and self-sabotage.