1-1-1: you DO deserve it

read about how I've worked through seasons of imposter syndrome and how to celebrate your accomplishments, especially when you don't feel like you deserve it.

May 20, 2025

may, 2025

edition 78.

I’m in the process of curating the perfect summer playlist that feels exactly like ryan evan’s jazz squares in bop to the top from the award-winning hit disney channel original movie, high school musical. if you have any other suggestions, please drop ‘em in the comments. [alternative playlist name: dopamine hits for when my depression isn’t out to get me] :) :) yes I’m okay!

finally, this edition is free but some of my editions will not be. if you find my writing valuable and you want to support my work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber — a monthly subscription is $6, around a price of a coffee. you’ll get access to all of my previous editions, free and paid.

you can expect one email from me every week containing:

one quote that has been inspiring me
one journal prompt
one piece of advice*

* = if you want to submit a question for my upcoming emails, you can find the form here.

podcast

there are tons of guest episodes on the podcast from 2024 that are worth checking out — listen to them here <3

one quote

“I hope beautiful things happen to you this year, and when they do — I hope that you believe you are deserving of them”

—bianca sparacino

one journal prompt

write out a list of achievements, big or small, that you’ve achieved in the past 5 years. some examples: graduating, job offers, races completed, learning new skills, volunteer work.

one piece of advice

“How do you deal with imposter syndrome? I’m on the fence about accepting an offer at a new job because I’m scared that I won’t be good enough"

first of all, congratulations on the job offer! getting a job offer (of any sort) in this economy is a feat so you should be extremely proud of yourself.

in terms of imposter syndrome, trust me when I say everyone deals with this in some way. here’s a non-exhaustive list of things I don’t think I deserve or am good enough to have: followers on instagram, paid substack subscribers, my job, some of my best friends, random acts of kindness from strangers… I could literally keep going. imposter syndrome seems to be baked so deeply in my psyche that it would take nothing short of a miracle to convince me that I am a deserving human being otherwise. it’s something I’ve had a lot of therapy surrounding, and something I will continue to address in my coming sessions (enneagram 3 anyone?)

while I can’t give you a guide to overcoming imposter syndrome, I can give a few tips and strategies that have helped me over the years:

recognise that these feelings are normal: feeling like we’re not good enough is a normal part of the human experience, especially when we start (or about to start) something new. let your thoughts say what they need to say, and then let them pass. I like to practice non-acceptance with my thoughts.
write down a list of achievements as physical proof to yourself: this was suggested to me by a previous therapist and then brought up again by my mom recently so that’s how you know it’s a gooood one. refer to the journal prompt for some ideas!
be open with your support system: listen, if I had a dollar for the amount of times I have called my mom and Sobbed On The Phone about how I feel behind in life or how I don’t feel good enough or how nothing feels like it’s working out… I’d be pretty rich. it’s really helpful to be vocal about your negative self talk because your support system can help you reframe them (and prove you wrong!)
celebrate your wins: if you’ve ever set a goal and completed it, make sure you celebrate that. I am a chronic goal-post-mover (i.e. I never let myself sit in the satisfaction of achieving something because I always look to the next thing) but I’m learning how to take a breath after I complete something hard.
accept that you won’t know everything: you will never be perfect at what you do — the mistakes (and em dashes, okay) are what makes us human (side note: who says lists are a sign of chat gpt?? sorry I love a good list). you don’t need to be perfect at something to deserve it. let me say it again: you don’t need to be perfect at something to deserve it. just as people are obsessed with the mel robbins Let Them theory, we should start parading the Let Yourself theory. LET YOURSELF HAVE THE GOOD THINGS!
separate your feelings from your worth: let me tell you a little secret. your feelings change, your worth doesn’t. WOOF, I hate reminding myself of that as well. what do you MEAN I can’t work harder? that my worth isn’t conditional? that I deserve good things because we all deserve good things?! but it’s true: no accomplishment or job title or even failure determines your worth. it’s intrinsic to you as a human being. you are worth something because you are human.

imposter syndrome is something where, no matter how hard I work, I feel like I can’t overcome it. but I’ve realised it’s less about learning to “defeat” it and more about learning how to live with the thoughts. it’s about learning how to move through life when you’re convinced that you’re not good enough and still run confidently in right direction (and no, it’s not as much of an oxymoron as you would think). either way, I hope you took that job even with all the doubts in your mind, and I hope you’ll see that it ends beautifully.

reading updates

currently reading: the culture of narcissism by christopher lasch, great big beautiful life by emily henry

finished this week:

reading challenge: 15/50

if you want to keep up with my reading throughout the week, this is my goodreads :)

discount codes

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Runna: personalised running training plans — katieeu for 2 weeks free
lululemon: my current list of favourite things

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