I try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.Failure isnot anoptionI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI qualify thingsby saying:"This may notbe right, but..."I was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skillsto live up to mycredentialsI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meIf I can doit, anyonecanI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI hold backwhen workingwith a groupor teamI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.Failure isnot anoptionI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI qualify thingsby saying:"This may notbe right, but..."I was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skillsto live up to mycredentialsI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meIf I can doit, anyonecanI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI hold backwhen workingwith a groupor teamI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I do

Impostor Syndrome Bingo - Call List

(Print) Use this randomly generated list as your call list when playing the game. There is no need to say the BINGO column name. Place some kind of mark (like an X, a checkmark, a dot, tally mark, etc) on each cell as you announce it, to keep track. You can also cut out each item, place them in a bag and pull words from the bag.


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  1. I try to be really personable and friendly so people won't notice or mind if I'm not that good.
  2. Failure is not an option
  3. I should be able to do most things by myself
  4. I qualify things by saying: "This may not be right, but..."
  5. I was probably chosen/hired/admitted because of some kind of mistake
  6. Do not let people see you working too hard
  7. I apologize for mistakes or for not knowing something
  8. I look really good on paper but I don't really have the skills to live up to my credentials
  9. I should feel lucky that I got this deal/case/job
  10. I panic before a test or presentation or performance
  11. I only won/accomplished because there wasn't that much competition
  12. I remind others of how much I don't know so they don't expect too much
  13. Never let on that you do not know how to do something
  14. I should just "get it" like everyone around me
  15. If I can do it, anyone can
  16. I succeeded because I had a lot of help
  17. I hold back when working with a group or team
  18. I don't tell anyone I feel like an impostor
  19. I always share credit with others even if I did most of the work
  20. Don't challenge yourself for fear that you might look bad if you don't know something
  21. Eventually people will realize that I'm not that smart
  22. It was a fluke. I can only be this good once
  23. I assume when people are complementing that they are being nice
  24. I assume I will fall short so I won't be disappointed when I do