Imagine the following scenario, you sit in front of your computer, one hundred percent committed to learning something new, in this case, learning programming, maybe you have even bought a course that is a little expensive for you, even a simple notebook for you. notes of what you are going to study, you already have everything ready, this time you go (you think), I will become an excellent programmer and get a good job in the next few months, so, finally you start studying, you feel extremely confident in the first days and even in the first weeks, and congratulations, you are really learning and absorbing everything you are studying, you feel incredible, you feel like your life is about to change, you feel like you are becoming disciplined in your studies, you are being consistent , but unconsciously, small thoughts start to appear in your mind, before, insignificant, but now, they start to become repetitive in your conscious mind (I'm not good enough. Everyone around me is better than me.
I should know this. I'm fooling everyone, and one day they'll find out. I learned absolutely nothing) And little by little you lose focus, the desire to study, until you feel that you are stuck in time, not knowing what to do, you feel a complete EMPTY If somehow you felt represented by this little story, this video is exclusively for you, but before I show you how to avoid going through this, or how to get out of this cycle, I first have to explain to you what this impostor syndrome is.
If you do a quick Google search it will give you the following explanation: “Imposter syndrome, impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome, is a phenomenon whereby capable people suffer from an illusory inferiority, thinking that they are not as capable. . .
” In other words, it's that voice in your head that keeps telling you that you're not good enough, that you don't deserve what you've achieved, and that sooner or later everyone will realize that you're a fraud. And this syndrome is more common than you might think, especially in highly competitive areas like programming, where the amount of knowledge needed seems infinite and another new technology appears every minute. But what you may not know is that this feeling of constant self-criticism not only affects your confidence, but can also drain your energy, your motivation and in the end, you may feel like you are stuck in a cycle.
You strive to learn more, to prove yourself, but negative thoughts continue to haunt you. You start to doubt every decision, every line of code, and the frustration only increases. Now that you are familiar with this problem, the question remains, how do you get out of this cycle?
How can you overcome this feeling of emptiness and regain that desire you had when you started? First 1 - Accept these feelings It is important to understand that feeling these insecurities does not mean that you are not capable or that you do not deserve what you have achieved. In fact, these feelings are extremely common, especially in challenging areas like programming, where as I said there are a million things you can learn in this area.
When you start to think that you're not good enough or that at some point people will discover that you "don't know that much," try to remember that these thoughts are part of your growth. Feeling this insecurity is often a sign that you are challenging yourself, leaving your comfort zone, and that is a very good thing. But when I say that you should accept these feelings, it doesn't mean that you will simply conform to them.
Instead, it means recognizing that they are part of the learning process. When you accept them, you take an important step towards stopping criticizing yourself so much and starting to be kinder to yourself. Allow yourself to learn, make mistakes and evolve over time.
Remember that no one is born knowing anything, much less programming, and this is a skill that takes time to master. By accepting your insecurities, you open up space to grow more calmly and steadily, without putting so much pressure on yourself. 2 - Recognize your abilities After accepting that these feelings are common, It's time to start valuing yourself for what you're really good at.
Sometimes we get lost in negative thoughts and forget to recognize the things we really do well. Remember your achievements, even if they seem small. Every concept you master, every problem you solve, is proof of your progress.
So don't let these victories go unnoticed—they show how much you're improving. A good practice that helped me a lot is keeping a record of your achievements. It could be a list on your computer, a diary or a folder with the projects you've completed, it doesn't matter where, just record it.
When doubt hits, you can look at it and remember everything you've achieved. This helps remind you that you are on the right path. Also don't hesitate to seek feedback.
Talk to someone in the field to get an outside perspective on your skills. Sometimes hearing from someone else that you're doing a good job can be the push you need to keep believing in yourself. And another thing, if you already know the basics of programming but still don't feel competent, I highly recommend the course by Filipe Deschamps (the Michel Teló of programming), the course has almost 1000 testimonials (including mine) and a refund rate of just 1%, so you can see how good the course is, and I did it for you and got a 10% discount COUPON, just click on the link in the description, I promise you won't regret it , I'm taking this course myself and it's helping me a lot, seriously, it's really worth it, check it out!
3 – Don't make comparisons Ok, this is a part that a lot of people will identify with (including me sometimes), which is comparing yourself with other people, especially in this very competitive field. You look at someone who seems more advanced, who learns faster, or who seems to have mastered everything, and suddenly you start to wonder, "Why am I not like that? " And as I said here once, each person has their own learning pace and their own trajectory.
Comparing your progress to someone else's is like comparing apples to oranges, it just doesn't make any sense. You don't see the struggles others face or the time it took them to get to where they are. What you see is just the tip of the iceberg.
Instead of measuring yourself by others, focus on your own trajectory. The important thing is that you are learning and improving every day. Look at the path you've already taken and recognize how much you've grown.
Small steps are still progress, and that's what really matters. It's also useful to remember that programming is a vast and diverse field. Each person has their own areas of strength and interest.
Maybe you're comparing your weakness to someone else's strength, which isn't fair to yourself. So, when you start to want to compare yourself to someone, focus on your own growth. Evaluate what you have already achieved and what you can still improve, but always within your own context and pace.
Remember: the only person you should compare yourself to is yourself from yesterday. 4 - Learn to Manage Expectations When you start learning programming, it's natural to have high expectations, you imagine yourself mastering everything quickly, creating incredible projects, and soon getting that dream job. But, the reality is that learning is a process, and it won't always happen at the speed you'd like.
Managing your expectations is essential to avoid frustration. Understand that learning programming is a journey full of ups and downs. There will be moments when everything makes sense, and others when you feel like you know absolutely nothing.
And that's totally normal! One of the ways to manage your expectations is to set realistic goals. Instead of expecting to master a programming language in a few weeks, focus on small daily or weekly goals, like understanding a specific concept or solving a problem that seemed difficult before.
Not only does this make the process less intimidating, but it also allows you to see steady progress. Another important point is to remember that no one knows everything, not even the most experienced programmers. Technology is always changing, and everyone is in a continuous learning process.
Therefore, it is essential to be patient with yourself and accept that it is impossible, I repeat, impossible to know everything. By adjusting your expectations, you create a healthier mental environment in which to learn and evolve. This also helps you stay motivated, as you begin to value each small step forward rather than becoming frustrated that you're not "there" yet.
5 – Don’t Push Yourself Beyond What You Can It’s easy to get excited and want to learn everything at once, especially when you’re excited about a new challenge. However, it is essential to recognize your limits and not push yourself beyond what would be healthy for you. When you try to do more than you can handle, you can end up feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
This not only harms your ability to learn, but can also affect both your physical and mental health. Balance is the key. It's important to find a pace that works for you, that allows you to progress without compromising your quality of life.
Also, listen to your body and mind. If you notice that you're feeling tired or stressed, it's a sign that it might be time to take a break. Remember that being active is not the same as being productive.
The quality of your work is more important than the number of hours you spend on it. And of course, allow yourself time to rest and recover, and don't overexert yourself. Respect your own limits, this will help you avoid burnout.
6 – Always remember your first motivation Sometimes, the path to achieving your goals may seem full of challenges and obstacles (and it really is). But it's normal to feel discouraged or lose motivation at times. However, it is important to remember that these phases are part of the process and do not define your future success.
Go back to why you started this journey. Remember your goals and what got you excited in the first place. If you purchased a course or made an investment, think about the goals you hoped to achieve and the value it could bring to your life.
And whenever you get discouraged, keep hitting that same button, remember the first motivation, what really made you start all this. Accepting these feelings, recognizing your abilities, avoiding comparisons, learning to manage expectations, not pushing yourself beyond what you can and always remembering your first motivation are some of the main topics I raised here in this video. Of course, there are many other tips here on the internet, but I especially want to raise awareness about these topics, because they were the ones I had observed the most in the community in this area, so if you have any more tips, leave them in the comments, certainly.
it will help a lot of people, and if you want to find a course that helps you both to program and become competent in the area, check out Deschamps' course, really guys, I wouldn't advertise a course here if it wasn't good, take a look seriously.
