I qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingFailure isnot anoptionI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI was probablychosen/admittedbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeIf I can doit, anyonecanI assume whenpeople arecomplimentingme they arebeing niceI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI shouldfeel luckythat I gotthis scoreI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingFailure isnot anoptionI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI was probablychosen/admittedbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeIf I can doit, anyonecanI assume whenpeople arecomplimentingme they arebeing niceI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI shouldfeel luckythat I gotthis scoreI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomething

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