I should beable to domost thingsby myselfI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeIf I can doit, anyonecanI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartFailure isnot anoptionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI qualify thingsby saying:"This may notbe right, but..."I assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skillsto live up to mycredentialsI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I should feellucky that Igot thisaward/jobI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI hold backwhen workingwith a groupor teamI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeIf I can doit, anyonecanI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartFailure isnot anoptionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI qualify thingsby saying:"This may notbe right, but..."I assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skillsto live up to mycredentialsI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I should feellucky that Igot thisaward/jobI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI hold backwhen workingwith a groupor teamI 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 should be able to do most things by myself
  2. I was probably chosen/hired/admitted because of some kind of mistake
  3. If I can do it, anyone can
  4. I succeeded because I had a lot of help
  5. Do not let people see you working too hard
  6. I should just "get it" like everyone around me
  7. I always share credit with others even if I did most of the work
  8. Eventually people will realize that I'm not that smart
  9. Failure is not an option
  10. It was a fluke. I can only be this good once
  11. I qualify things by saying: "This may not be right, but..."
  12. I assume when people are complementing that they are being nice
  13. I look really good on paper but I don't really have the skills to live up to my credentials
  14. I don't tell anyone I feel like an impostor
  15. Don't challenge yourself for fear that you might look bad if you don't know something
  16. I panic before a test or presentation or performance
  17. Never let on that you do not know how to do something
  18. I apologize for mistakes or for not knowing something
  19. I try to be really personable and friendly so people won't notice or mind if I'm not that good.
  20. I should feel lucky that I got this award/job
  21. I remind others of how much I don't know so they don't expect too much
  22. I only won/accomplished because there wasn't that much competition
  23. I hold back when working with a group or team
  24. I assume I will fall short so I won't be disappointed when I do