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

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