I try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionFailure isnot anoptionIf I can doit, anyonecanI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI don't seemyself astalentedtherefore Iam a fraudI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionFailure isnot anoptionIf I can doit, anyonecanI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI don't seemyself astalentedtherefore Iam a fraudI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomething

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