#university life

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁?

have you ever noticed how quick we are to minimize our accomplishments or hesitate to act on our abilities? this phenomenon is not uncommon and may even have a psychological basis. according to research, fear of our own success is often linked to what psychologists call self-sabotage.

the psychology behind talent-related fear

studies suggest that fear of success stems from deep-rooted insecurities, perfectionism, and societal expectations.

dr. valerie young, an expert on imposter syndrome, explains that highly competent individuals often internalize self-doubt, leading them to feel unworthy of their achievements. instead of viewing success as an opportunity, they see it as a risk — a chance to be judged or exposed.

additionally, behavioral scientists highlight how comfort zones act as psychological safety nets. breaking out of this zone to pursue one’s potential often triggers the brain’s fight-or-flight response, fueling anxiety and hesitation.

a study published in the « journal of personality and social psychology » found that people often underperform or shy away from their potential to avoid the perceived threats of failure or criticism associated with high expectations.

the cost of playing small

constantly shrinking yourself can lead to a diminished sense of agency, reduced life satisfaction, and even burnout, according to findings in the field of positive psychology. martin seligman’s theory of learned helplessness suggests that repeated self-limitation can reinforce the belief that you are incapable, which ultimately restricts personal growth.

what science says about overcoming this fear

1. reframe your beliefs

imposter syndrome often thrives on fixed mindsets — the belief that our abilities are static and failure is a sign of incompetence. to combat this, psychologists recommend adopting a growth mindset, as outlined by dr. carol dweck. a growth mindset sees mistakes as opportunities for learning rather than proof of inadequacy.

actionable tip: when self-doubt creeps in, question it. ror instance, instead of thinking, “i don’t belong here,” reframe it as, “what can i learn from this experience?” over time, these subtle shifts can transform self-perception.

challenge begative self-talk: replace “i was lucky” with “i prepared well,” or “anyone could do this” with “i worked hard to make this happen.”

2. incremental action

imposter syndrome often paralyzes us because the expectations we set for ourselves feel overwhelming. research shows that breaking large goals into smaller, actionable steps reduces anxiety and builds confidence.

james clear, author of atomic habits, explains that small, consistent actions create a compound effect over time, leading to lasting change.

sart small: take manageable risks in your work or personal life. for example, share one idea in a meeting or take on a small challenge outside your comfort zone.

build evidence of success: each completed task — no matter how small — creates a track record of achievements. over time, this undermines the belief that your accomplishments are accidental.

3. self-compassion

people with imposter syndrome often hold themselves to unrealistic standards. kristin neff’s research on self-compassion shows that treating yourself with kindness during moments of failure or doubt can reduce stress and enhance resilience.

self-compassion involves acknowledging your struggles, understanding that imperfection is human, and responding to yourself as you would to a friend.

practice self-kindness: when you make a mistake, instead of saying, “i’m so incompetent,” try saying, “everyone makes mistakes, and i can learn from this.”

normalize imperfection: remind yourself that even the most successful people have moments of doubt and failure.

self-care as a tool: engage in activities that recharge your mental and emotional energy, whether that’s journaling, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.

by reframing your beliefs, taking small steps, and showing yourself compassion, you can gradually dismantle imposter syndrome. remember: confidence is not the absence of doubt but the decision to move forward despite it.

[literarydesire]

Life of a Classics student

Edit

Since I see a lot of people reblogging this with “it’s not like this” I would just like to remind you that this is based on my own experience as a classics student, so idk if y’all just don’t have lectures, drink coffee or go to the stacks at the library for assignment research? Like, I’m not trying to make a big deal out of it but I’m genuinely baffled as to how so many people have such a strong reaction to a moodboard, which is quite accurate to my own experience??

[study-diaries]

I will succeed. Not immediately. But definitely.

[felixcloud6288]

The most audacious thing I ever did in my academic career happened in a computer security class. We were given an assignment to pull a phishing attack on our professor and then write up a report about our research on him, reason for our attack, etc.

I decided to send him an email claiming to be Advil offering a mail-in service for pain meds. I then stole the source code from Advil's front page, edited the code to remove links to other pages, created a section where he could put in his information, and sent the modified code to the professor.

In my writeup, I admitted to stealing a company's code and that I committed multiple acts that broke the school's academic integrity rules including plagiarism, copyright infringement, and trademark infringement. I also told him he should ignore this because the assignment's main goal was to commit a crime so why should I care about other felonies I commit along the way.

I got an A+.

[how-to-get-away-with-study]

Quiet corner to study at campus 🌳

[h0n3ym00n333]

i have my big exam in four days, so the plan is to study as much as i can today. the library will be my home for the next eight hours or so

[lvvnystudies]

09.09

Spent the day with a new friend in the library (spending more time pouring over recent reads and planning a book club, rather than studying!)

[cal-roberts]

~ Keele University on the Edge of Spring ~

(Photograph by Cal Roberts)

[cannon-writes]

my go-to study spots recently

[ros3ybabe]

ToDo *Dec 15, 2024

I have some stuff I've been putting off, so I figured I'd make a todo list and be productive today. Some of it is little mundane tasks, some of it are larger things I've been procrastinating.

wash makeup brushes + sponges

research summer internship opportunities

put away laundry

plan language studies for this week (when, where, and what)

clean out backpack + old stuff from this last semester

make list of calls to make + emails to send tomorrow

do a digital declutter on iPad + chromebook

rewrite my personal budget for when I return to work

work in journal/workbook for 2025

read at least 2 chapters of a book

maybe practice crochet

hopefully I do at least half this list today, I'm feeling a little tired so we shall see. Will update tonight and restart my daily check ins as well!

til later lovelies 🩷

[renstrapp]

The blurbs... are IN! Thank you to Ollie and Fawnduu and Reimena for taking the time to read my book early and say nice things about it!!!

I can't wait for you all to meet these girls.

How Could You comes out December 17, so there's still time to pre-order it! Barnes and Noble is doing a pre-order sale today and tomorrow.

[mindfulstudyquest]

gentle reminder you can rise up from everything. you can recreate yourself. nothing is permanent. you are not stuck. you have choices. you can think new thoughts. you can learn something new. you can create new habits. all that matters is that you decide today and never look back.

[literarydesire]

Exam season and summer time battling for dominance

[study-diaries]

You don't have to be great at something to start, but you have to start to be great at something.

[felixcloud6288]

Last week, I passed the qualifying review for my university's PhD program and I just found out that I've met all the requirements to earn a Masters degree and just need to apply for that.

Everyone praise me.