So much of our lives is spent working. We talk about work/life balance. And sometimes we talk about harder things, like Imposter Syndrome, or burnout, or "mental health". But we rarely talk about mental illness or about how our emotions affect our lives and our work.

Prerequisite

Outline
At the root of Imposter Syndrome is shame. Shame is a complex emotion. And, in addition to imposter syndrome and burnout, shame can lead to a myriad of problems in our work lives: procrastination then frenzied work, avoiding work issues, poor boundaries, reduced problem solving ability, black and white thinking, criticism, and abusive behavior. Sometimes we may not even recognize that we are feeling shame while it is affecting our behaviors.

Despite what Instagram ads may say, there is no easy, 1-minute fix. But understanding the complexities of shame has helped me to begin to navigate these issues and start to heal. We cannot be afraid to talk about shame.

Learning Objectives
In this session, we will:
• define shame, imposter syndrome, burnout, etc.
• discuss what causes shame
• analyze how shame works
• seek solutions

Experience level
Beginner