Dear ,
September was quite a month. Several people close to me experienced the sudden loss of loved ones, significant
health issues, and scary diagnoses.
From what I can tell, this isn’t an isolated occurrence. The world seems to be spinning faster and more unpredictably than ever. At times, it can feel like too much.
How are you faring in the midst of it all? Have you been able to stay grounded and open, or are you finding yourself frequently caught up in worry and fear?
I’ve been vacillating, myself. Sometimes I feel too
agitated to tap into the tools I know will help, like checking in with my body, treating myself with compassion, and connecting with others. But overall, the center is holding. (Mostly.)
I’d love to hear how you are, what’s working for you, and what isn’t. If you’re seeking ideas for building and tapping into
your resilience, please remember Resourced & Ready: The Ultimate R&R. I’m really hoping it can provide support when it’s needed most.
Speaking of Resourced & Ready, you may recall that we’ve been focusing on different keys in each newsletter, and today we’re highlighting Key #6: Deepen trust (in ourselves). Let’s get to it.
Key
#6: Deepen Trust
While it’s important to trust others, resilience and well-being also depend on trusting ourselves. In academia, it can be especially easy to get pulled into comparing ourselves to our colleagues—measuring our CVs against theirs, copying their routines, or chasing someone else’s idea
of success.
Real success comes from honoring our own rhythms and working in ways that fit our needs and goals. For example, if you’re not a morning person, forcing yourself to wake up at 4:30 a.m. just because a colleague does won’t make you more productive. It will just exhaust you!
Self-trust means recognizing that we already have the skills, strengths, and resources to succeed, even when self-doubt creeps in. That doubt often shows up as imposter syndrome—the nagging feeling that we’re not as capable as others think and that we’ll eventually be “found out.” It’s common in high-pressure environments like academia, and it usually reflects the culture around us more than any real lack of ability.
What really matters is how we respond. When we approach our doubts with curiosity instead of judgment, we see ourselves more clearly, let go of unnecessary worry, and build genuine confidence. Taking time to reflect on what we’ve already accomplished reminds us that trusting ourselves isn’t just possible, it’s essential for growth, resilience, and lasting success.
Try It: Document Your Wins
Self-doubt thrives when we overlook what we do well. This 5-minute exercise is inspired by Harvard researcher Teresa Amabile, who found that recognizing small daily
wins is one of the most powerful ways to boost motivation and confidence. Tracking progress—even tiny steps forward—helps us collect evidence of our strengths, promoting greater self-trust.
Steps:
- Check
in: Write down one thing you handled well today. It doesn’t have to be huge—it could be finishing a reading, giving helpful feedback, or setting a boundary.
- Acknowledge your role: Note what you did that made it work. Example: “I trusted my own structure for the lecture instead of copying a colleague’s approach, and it went really well.”
- Spot the
strength: Name the quality you used (creativity, courage, perseverance, organization, etc.).
- Look back: At the end of the week, skim through your notes. You’ll start to see patterns in your strengths and successes, solid proof to lean on the next time imposter thoughts show up.
The more we practice recognizing our wins, the less space imposter syndrome has to grow. Over time, self-trust becomes less of a challenge and more of a habit—one that fuels resilience, strengthens confidence, and helps us thrive in academia and beyond.
Building self-trust isn’t about being perfect or never doubting ourselves. It’s about noticing the evidence of our own capability and choosing to believe it.
As always, thanks for being here, and thanks for being you!
Much love,
