69. How to Never Feel like an Impostor Again

Impostor Syndrome is something most of us struggle with, and people who are conscientious and have high standards of performance and achievement - like introverts and quiet achievers - seem to struggle with it more. Even outwardly successful individuals have admitted to having Impostor Syndrome at some point in their career.

On days when your energy is flat, your mood is low, and you’re unable for whatever reason to believe that you are wise and capable and competent, I want to share a simple tip I learned, that you can put into practice straight off listening to this episode.

It’s called having a Smile File (credit to Thea Orozco for the first time I heard the term).

In short, it’s collating and documenting evidence of your competence every time you receive some kind of external validation e.g. a text message of thanks from someone you helped, a client testimonial, a 5- star Google review of your services or podcast, someone resharing your LinkedIn post.

Any time you are recognized by someone for being yourself or some positive difference you made, take a screenshot and add it to your Smile File.

Listen in to find out what else you must do to solidify and embody this empowered version of you, that was inside you all along.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review The Quiet Warrior Podcast on your listening app. Your support helps inspire more introverts and quiet achievers in our communities.

Connect with Serena:

• Subscribe to The Visible Introvert newsletter for weekly tips and stories of how to amplify your quiet strengths without having to act extroverted.
• Join me on LinkedIn where I actively share empowering ways to show up professionally and socially as my highest introverted self.

This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, I'm Serena Loh.
If you're used to hearing thatintroverts are shy, anxious,
antisocial and lack goodcommunication and leadership
skills, then this podcast is foryou.
You're about to fall in lovewith the calm, introspective and
profound person that you are.
Discover what's fun, unique andpowerful about being an

(00:22):
introvert, and how to make theelegant transition from quiet
achiever to quiet warrior inyour life and work anytime you
want, in more ways than youimagined possible.
Welcome.
Welcome to another episode ofthe Quiet Warrior podcast.
It's the first day of the LunarNew Year as I'm recording this

(00:44):
episode and I want to wish you avery happy and prosperous New
Year.
Wherever you feel you've landedin 2025, it's only January.
There is still 11 months to goand every day, I feel, is an
opportunity to start over, toreset to day one.
An opportunity to start over,to reset to day one.

(01:07):
Whatever you're going throughat the moment, that you feel
you're struggling with, that hasbeen a great challenge for you,
and sometimes you may feel youhave no energy.
You just feel really flat,really demotivated.
You just can't summon up theenthusiasm to keep going.
I want you to know that todaycan be day one.
Today, you can re-script yournarrative, you can write a new

(01:28):
story.
It is possible, whatever stageof life you're in, whatever
season you're going through.
I've been there.
I've done that numerous times.
So I don't go by New Year'sresolutions, I don't go by
artificial, socially imposedideas of what is considered a
new day or a new beginning or anew opportunity.

(01:49):
I'm making my own as I go, I'mnoticing what I need, I'm paying
attention to what's not working, I'm celebrating what is
working, and one good way I'vereally found with introverts and
quiet achievers is that wedon't often reflect enough and
we're not really fully aware ofhow powerful, how incredible

(02:14):
humans we are and what we'veachieved has actually made an
impact on someone else.
I want to share this simplepractice with you that can make
a difference to your day.
The next time you feel impostersyndrome coming on, you start
thinking to yourself I'm notsure I can really do this
challenging thing of beingvisible.

(02:35):
I'm not sure about thisinterview.
I'm not sure about asking forthis promotion.
I'm not sure I should ask forthe sale.
I'm not sure I should ask forthe sale.
I want you to think of thisEvery time you've ever received
a text message, an email fromsomeone to say thank you or to
express appreciation, to expressgratitude for something you've

(02:57):
done for them or how you've beenfor them.
Maybe you encouraged them in atime when they were really
low-spirited.
Maybe you did a wonderful pieceof work and your client is
incredibly grateful.
Maybe you helped someone simplyby listening to them and not
judging them and you made themfeel hopeful about themselves.
Maybe you were fully presentfor someone who thinks no one

(03:22):
else cares.
Maybe you had a certain waywith words that landed so
beautifully at such a vital timefor the other person, for your
friend, for your client, thatthey felt moved and inspired.
Every time you receive one ofthese pieces of evidence, I want

(03:42):
you to keep it.
Take a screenshot of it, saveit in your phone, save it to
your computer, start what myfriend Thea Orozco calls a smile
file.
It's easy to remember.
It rhymes beautifully, call itwhatever you like.
Someone else I know calls it anappreciation folder.
Make sure you keep all yourscreenshots there.

(04:02):
All these text messages, allthese emails, photographs, all
these are evidence that willcome in handy on the day when
you start to question yourselfand to feel doubtful Am I worthy
to take this on?
Should I be asking for more.
Is it all right for me to stepout and do this brave thing, to

(04:23):
ask for this help, or to asksomeone to collaborate with me
on those moments, in those days?
I want you to look at yoursmile file and read every one of
those notes and reminders andemails and text messages telling
you how great you are, howincredible you are, what
wonderful work you do, howtalented, how gifted, how

(04:44):
creative, how kind, howcompassionate, how conscientious
, how caring, how creative, howkind, how compassionate, how
conscientious, how caring.
Take in every word.
Sit with the words.
Let them soak into your soul,into your spirit, let them go
deeply into those crevices,those gaps, those dark places,
and let them light you up fromthe inside, let them refuel you,

(05:06):
let them motivate you, let themremind you, because what has
happened is that you've becomedisconnected, as we all do.
You've forgotten who you trulyare, and so these are visible,
audible reminders of yourgreatness, and people don't just
send these words for nothing.

(05:26):
They have put their heart intocrafting these messages of
gratitude to you, and I want youto give yourself permission to
accept that this is who you are.
This is how others see you.
It's very important, not justfor your mental health, not just
for your inner clarity, but foryour sole purpose.

(05:49):
For all the times when you feelunclear about your path ahead
and you're not sure what yournext step should be, for all the
times you think you're animposter and you don't deserve
to be at this table or in thisroom, for all the times you feel
unworthy to ask for more inyour life.
I want you to look at every oneof these messages.

(06:09):
These are tangible proofs thatyou do matter and you are making
a difference, that you docontribute.
Even touching one life has aripple effect that you cannot
foresee, and so don't take thesewords lightly.
Take them to your heart, letthem soak in, believe them,
believe them in the spirit ofgoodwill that they come from,

(06:32):
and allow yourself to embodythis realization that you have
forgotten temporarily, that youhave greatness in you.
You have courage and compassionand goodness and creativity in
you.
You are capable of great things.
You are already doing them, youhave done them before and
therefore, you can do them again.
I hope this is a reminder andan encouragement for you to keep

(06:56):
going.
See you on the next episode.
I'm so grateful that you'rehere today.
If you found this contentvaluable.
Please share it on your socialmedia channels and subscribe to
the show on your favoritelistening platform.
Subscribe to the show on yourfavorite listening platform.
Together, we can help moreintroverts thrive To receive
more uplifting content like this.

(07:16):
Connect with me on Instagram atSerena Lo Quiet, warrior Coach.
Thank you for sharing your timeand your energy with me.
See you on the next episode.