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

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