Do you ever feel like you’re not actually good enough and your success is just a matter of luck? Like you’ve fooled everyone around you? If so, you might be struggling with a common experience called Impostor Syndrome.
What is impostor syndrome?
Impostor Syndrome is not something to be afraid of, but it can be controlled, analyzed and tamed. It is actually a psychological pattern where you doubt your accomplishments and feel like a fraud, despite evidence of your skills. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or profession.
Roots of the impostor syndrome
This syndrome affects individuals across various demographics, regardless of age, gender, or professional background.
It can arise from a critical family environment (through relentless pressure on the child, lack of appreciation from parents or caretakers, and an exaggerated emphasis on achievements), societal pressure (belonging to groups where you feel the pressure to succeed in order to be a part of them), or certain personality traits (like perfectionism or introversion).
Signs you might have impostor syndrome
- Constantly worrying about your knowledge and performance, even after positive feedback
- Attributing your success to luck or external factors
- Underestimating your abilities and downplaying your achievements
- You can’t accurately evaluate your skills
- Constantly sabotaging yourself
- Being too hard on yourself, often judging and criticizing yourself
- Setting unrealistically high goals and feeling like a failure when you don’t reach them
- Experiencing self-doubt and struggle to believe in yourself
How to manage impostor syndrome
There are steps you can take to overcome Impostor Syndrome and silence those inner critics:
- Identify your emotions and dispute negative self-talk. When you hear that voice telling you you’re not good enough, challenge it with evidence of your skills and accomplishments.
- Be kind to yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, and nobody is perfect.
- Keep a record of your accomplishments, big and small. Refer back to this list when feelings of doubt creep in.
- Always keep a copy of a comment, praise message that marked you the most, that really mattered to you.
- Talk to a trusted friend, mentor, or therapist about how you’re feeling.
Why it matters
Be aware that Impostor Syndrome can lead to anxiety, burnout, and even depression if not noticed early. But remember, you are not alone. Many successful people, like Maya Angelou, Serena Williams, Neil Gaiman and Albert Einstein, have struggled with Impostor Syndrome too. The good news is that it can be overcome.
When you start recognizing these patterns and taking steps to conquer them, you can release yourself from Impostor Syndrome and confidently step into your most empowered self.