In the fast-paced world of association professionals, it's not uncommon to juggle a variety of roles, each pulling you in different directions. The constant demands can leave your mind feeling cluttered, weighed down by tasks that at times seem almost impossible to conquer.

At this crossroads, your mind can either become your greatest ally or your harshest critic. You can let imposter syndrome take the reins or choose to befriend both your mind and body by tapping into their unique strengths. The latter is not always a linear path, but it is a more sustainable path.

Everybody has a hidden treasure chest of potential waiting to be opened. Unlocking it might come with time, resources, and experience. However, there is at least one thing you can incorporate into your daily routine to make your professional life more fulfilling: Get to know yourself. This article will guide you through a journey of self-discovery, equipping you to identify your strengths and strategically use them to flourish in your professional environment.

Talk to Yourself

When was the last time you took a moment to check in with yourself? This involves a simple, yet powerful internal dialogue: ‘What’s my mood like today?’ or ‘Am I feeling energized or drained?’ Establishing this habit is a great way to kickstart your day and align your tasks with your emotional and physical state. Keeping a journal to see how your mood changes might also help you recognize patterns and anticipate what you can show up for at work. Your journal could also be used as a time capsule for your achievements. No matter how big or small you perceive the achievement to be, you should store it somewhere. Over time, you’ll start to realize how often you were able to triumph over your self-doubt. According to a study published in 2006, keeping a journal can be equally effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy in decreasing the likelihood of depression among young adults.

Our professional identity is just a microcosm of our true selves. By keeping that in mind, we can let go of the pressure to conform to who we think we should be at work and stay grounded in our authentic self. Just as regular self-reflection helps you align your energy with daily tasks, documenting your thoughts allows you to take it one step further by preserving key insights and accomplishments that fuel your professional growth.

Challenge Yourself

Slowly but surely, as you start to unearth your hidden gems in your journal, the easier it will be to take advantage of your strengths at work. However, the work does not end on the page of a notebook. Seeking out opportunities for professional development will also help you unlock new skills that you weren’t aware you possessed.

To complement your existing strengths, you should also remember that you have continuous learning at your disposal. Webinars, online certifications, conferences, or speaking opportunities are all valuable resources for engaging your mind and making new connections.

Stepping out of our comfort zones and attending a class we’ve deemed intimidating or impossible only shows us that we can still show up when things are difficult. We don’t have to be at our strongest or our most capable, to find where we truly thrive. As a young professional, the best and most surprising connections I have made have been at in-person conferences where I took a risk and put myself out there.

Believe in Yourself

As you uncover what your potential really looks like, the more consistent you will be in showing up for yourself and others. By getting to know yourself and stepping out of your comfort zone, you will have continuously proven to yourself that you have the skills and talents necessary to achieve any company or personal goals. As a result, you can become the go-to person for a particular team, colleague, or friend. Before you know it, you will be building a reputation as an expert in your field by consistently demonstrating your strengths.

Take my experience at my association as an example: I was one of the first to dive into HubSpot, and as an intern, imposter syndrome hit hard. The platform was vast, with countless features to learn, and I often questioned whether I could keep up. But within six months, I not only mastered the tools but also became the go-to person for everything related to marketing and event tracking. My colleagues regularly came to me with questions, setting up meetings to explore features they hadn’t yet tried. This journey taught me more than just how to navigate a new database—it showed me that I can overcome self-doubt, learn complex systems, and become a trusted resource within my team.

Unlocking strengths isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. The timeline of self-discovery looks different for everyone. As you embark on this journey, the best part will be sharing it with others as I did in this article. The continuous journey of discovering and developing our strengths is a shared experience that unites us all.