Proof is in the pudding

Self-doubt even when there is clear evidence of your success. it sucks!

You may have heard the saying proof is in the pudding, it means you have seen first hand proof of something worth either by taste if we are talking of cake or from our experience. 

This evidence doesn't always cut it when the imposter syndrome is around, you might hear someone praise your efforts and be in ore of your skill, tell you how that's the best Victoria sponge they've had this year but there will still be some doubt that lingers in your mind. 
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You've made the cake on your own so there’s only you to thank for how good it tastes when your great-aunt compliments you and tells you how you follow in the family baker's footsteps (whoever that might be to you). You responded by talking about how easy and simple the recipe was to follow. The imposter is most probably playing their part here as you are undervaluing your contributions. This might be because you are feeling a bit embarrassed, or because to you it wasn't really anything to shout about.
These thought patterns of self-doubt are not often ones that pop up occasionally and then they are gone for months. Sorry to be the bearer of not pleasant news. It's the nagging feeling of never feeling good enough when there’s that small part of you that wants to believe you did well and be even the tiniest bit proud of yourself. A thought enters your mind ‘What if I am a fraud, what if this was simply shear luck’

When the imposter is around it can leave us with anxiety, fear of being deceitful, wondering if when you make a cake next year you’ll be caught out or it wont be as good as this one so people will be let down. This in itself is likely to increase the stress and pressure you feel as you fear making a mess of things and want it to be just perfect as you work so hard to keep up appearances and not be exposed.

I hope the cake reference - helped get my point across a little. If it didn't I apologise, using analogies helps me to understand and are relatable for some. Cake aside, there are lots of circumstances where the imposter might show up. 

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I can help you, I'm confident the only steam that's needed here is from inside the oven and not from the sweat you've worked up. 

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