As 2024 ends, posts of people sharing their achievements begin to flood social media feeds. The posts may take the forms of “gratitude” for the blessing of a new job or promotion to “year in review” of all things accomplished. And there is certainly much to be proud of. Less viewed or posted – or, less lauded – is news of people falling short or feeling like an underachiever for not accomplishing the goals or resolutions established at the onset of 2024.
I interviewed people, who are referred to by pseudonyms, about their sentiments as we near the end of the year. Antonio, a senior compliance analyst, responded, “I’m disappointed that I did not lose the weight that I intended.” Keith, a sales associate for luxury home gyms, noted he was despondent, “I’m a single dad and there were times that I had to leave work to pick up my son for various reasons and I was terminated.” Vivian, who is currently in between jobs, was disheartened, “I’ve not gotten my finances in the right place. I’m still struggling in my career. I tried learning a new skill, but it’s stagnated. There’s a lot I would have achieved but here we are.”
For people like those interviewed, the end-of-year achievements posts on social media can be impostorizing.
I coined the term “impostorization” and define it as the policies, practices, and seemingly innocuous interactions in organizations that make people feel inadequate. Whereas impostor syndrome assumes that people’s feelings of inadequacy stem from personal deficiencies, including low self-esteem, impostorization focuses on the ways the spaces we occupy, including the workplace, make people feel less than. In this way, social media may be impostorizing. Posts may leave us questioning our qualifications, competence, and intelligence. After all, if we were so great, would we not also have equally post-worthy news?
Here are 6 steps to keep impostorization at bay amid the avalanche of end-of-year celebratory posts:
1. Give yourself credit.
If all you did was get through 2024, then congratulations. Some people either have taken or will take their last breadth before the New Year’s Eve ball drops in New York’s Time Square. You have life and that is something others do not have.
2. Focus your energy on the future.
As cliché as it sounds, yesterday – in this case, 2024, will soon be the past and 2025 is the future. New year, fresh start. Set up a game plan. Rather than dwell and expend energy on what did not happen, focus on the possibilities that lie ahead and make a list of steps you can take to achieve your objectives.
3. Take inventory of what you did accomplish.
Perhaps you fell short of your sales goals this year or did not land the promotion for which you felt qualified. These professional setbacks can be disappointing. But is there something else, on the personal front, for which you are proud? For Keith, “I don’t feel like I fell short at all about being a good dad. My son is the love of my life, and I was able to spend more time with my son.”
4. Keep social media in perspective. Posts do not reflect daily reality.
Studies find that viewing other people’s posts can lead to social comparison, which is the process of assessing one’s position relative to others. Viewing posts of others who appear to have “better lives” and “greater happiness” may leave you feeling frustrated, stressed, unhappy, and dissatisfied with your career. But posts are simply snapshots of people’s lives and portray a more positive and idealistic image than reality. If you find yourself feeling less than after viewing certain posts (LinkedIn and Instagram are rife with social comparison-triggering posts), then consider limiting the amount of time you spend on social media.
5. Remind yourself that feelings are not facts.
You may have feelings of inadequacy after viewing posts of other people’s successes, but you are not what you feel. It is possible that they have certain skills or access to resources and networks that have facilitated their achievements. Consider substituting feelings of inadequacy with curiosity. Is there something you may learn from people who are posting? Reaching out to them may be instrumental and it is highly likely that they will want to share. Studies find that people enjoy talking about themselves and find it as gratifying as food and sex.
6. Read this sobering reality.
Researchers have interviewed people who are on their death bed to understand their greatest regrets. Not getting a promotion or launching a successful company are not among them. The top regret? Wishing they would have had the courage to live a life true to their selves, not living the life others expected of them. Your life is only yours to live. Focus on what you want your life to be and mean in 2025. Social media is not the barometer. Your joy is.
Whether you feel like an underachiever in 2024 or somewhat accomplished like Alex Estrada, who co-founded top-rated Ivy Hydration Drip and Therapy but is still needing to “Find better balance between my professional and personal health,” self-care will be important. Taking a moment to recognize what went well (no matter how trivial it may seem), reminding yourself that your value is not derived from achievements, and putting other people’s celebratory posts into perspective can stave off the holiday blues and help you welcome 2025 with a renewed sense of hope.