Imposter Syndrome – Ever Fake It?
There’s a term thrown around quite a bit right now: “imposter syndrome.” It’s a term I both hear and use quite a lot in my work as a mindset mentor. The reason it’s so prevalent is because many of us have struggled with it at some time, and some of us have struggled with it a lot. Women and minority groups are disproportionately affected.
The way I define it is you feel as if you’re a fraud, you worry that people will find out that you’re not as good as they thought you were and you will be found out as a fake. You worry that you just ‘got lucky’. This is often despite a lot of evidence to the contrary. You probably downplay your qualifications and successes, and feel as if you don’t fit in.
This is not the same as self-doubt, which is quite normal when you are doing new things or being stretched. When you are edging out of your comfort zone it is a time of growth, and doubts are bound to creep in. Imposter Syndrome runs deeper than this.
The good news is I’ve found there are many things you can do to help yourself overcome the feeling of being an imposter. Here are 3 of them:
Question Your Thoughts
Are those thoughts of being a fraud true? Or are they just a story you are telling yourself? Do you ignore your past successes, your qualifications and experience? Do you compare yourself to others carefully curated online presence? Can you find any valid reason for feeling like a fraud? Once you learn to question your thoughts this way, they begin to dissipate.
Keep a Log of Your Achievements & Praise Received
Have a journal (a physical journal or an online folder) where you keep certificates and diplomas as well as praise you have received for your work. Whenever someone appreciates you, log it down. This is a great resource for times when imposter syndrome rears its head. Just reading through it can be enough to reassure you that you are qualified, you are good enough, you are not a fake or a fraud.
Talk About it
Find someone you can talk to about your feelings. Just speaking it out loud can help you to realise that you are good enough, you are not a fraud.
Contact me if you would like to chat about how I can help you with this.
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