How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon where you might doubt your own abilities and feel as though you do not deserve of your achievements. This can cause anxiety, self-doubt, and low self-esteem. While imposter syndrome affects people from all walks of life, it is especially prevalent among high-achieving individuals who feel that they are not living up to their potential.

In this article, we will explore some ways to recognise and overcome imposter syndrome.

Also read: How Does Anxiety Affect Your Physical Health?

What are the signs of imposter syndrome?

Self-doubt is the hallmark of imposter syndrome. If you constantly feel like you don’t deserve the success you’re getting, or that you’re not good enough to be where you are, it might be a sign of imposter syndrome. You might even have objective evidence in front of you that states clearly and unequivocally that you’re doing well, that you’re successful, or that you are good, but there might be a voice in your head that is constantly trying to pull you down and telling you that you don't deserve to be where you are right now. Here are some more signs of imposter syndrome: 

• You have a very hard time being objective about competence. 

• You’re worried that you’ll never meet the standards that you’ve set for yourself. 

• Pulling yourself or your skills down in front of others or yourself. 

• Having a hard time accepting or acknowledging positive feedback. 

• Attributing your success to something external, like luck or chance. 

• Sabotaging your own success, by procrastinating or not doing the thing you think you’re bad at. 

• Setting impossibly high goals for yourself, and berating yourself when you inevitably fail at them. 

• Overachieving. 

• Self-doubt.

Imposter syndrome is an insidious state of being - it becomes like a self-fulfilling prophecy, where you eventually become a low performer simply because, in your head, there is no way that you can do well. It causes immense anxiety and stress. 

Also read: How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated?

You might be meeting the targets you’re supposed to meet, or your boss may be telling you that you’re good at what you do, or you might be given more and more responsibility and ownership, but you might not be able to accept any of it and think that you’re not good at what you do. You might also attribute all of this to an external factor, like luck or simple a fluke. It is like you’re just not able to internalise any of the positive experiences you might have. Eventually, you might even start self-sabotaging by procrastinating, leading you into a spiral and making you feel worse.

Also read: What Stress Does to Your Body

Ways to cope with Imposter Syndrome

Here are some ways to cope with imposter syndrome: 

Recognise and Acknowledge the Feeling

The first step to overcoming imposter syndrome is recognising that it exists and that it is affecting you. When you acknowledge that you are experiencing these feelings, you can start to take steps to address them.

Identify your thoughts and beliefs

Take some time to reflect on your thoughts and beliefs about yourself and your abilities. Write down the negative thoughts and beliefs that are holding you back. By doing this, you can start to identify patterns in your thinking that are contributing to your imposter syndrome.

Challenge your thoughts and beliefs

Once you have identified your negative thoughts and beliefs, it is time to challenge them. Ask yourself if they are based on facts or assumptions. If they are based on assumptions, try to find evidence to disprove them. If they are based on facts, try to put them into perspective and see them in a more positive light.

Seek out support

It can be helpful to seek out support from family, friends, or a therapist. Talking to someone you trust about your feelings can help you to process them and gain a different perspective. It can also help to be surrounded by people who believe in you and your abilities.

Focus on your accomplishments

Take some time to reflect on your accomplishments and the things that you are proud of. Write them down and keep them in a place where you can see them every day. This can help to build your confidence and counteract the negative thoughts that are fuelling your imposter syndrome.

Embrace your uniqueness

Everyone has their own unique set of skills and abilities. Embrace your uniqueness and focus on what makes you different from others. This can help to build your confidence and reduce your feelings of self-doubt.

Practice mindfulness

Practising mindfulness can help you to stay present in the moment and avoid getting caught up in negative thoughts. Mindfulness can also help you to develop a more positive outlook and reduce feelings of anxiety and stress.

Take action

One of the best ways to overcome imposter syndrome is to take action. Set small, achievable goals for yourself and work towards them. As you start to see progress, your confidence will grow, and your feelings of self-doubt will start to diminish.

Celebrate your successes

It is important to celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. This can help to build your confidence and reinforce the belief that you are capable and deserving of success.

Keep practising

Overcoming imposter syndrome is a process, and it takes time and effort. Keep practising the strategies outlined in this article and remind yourself of your accomplishments and strengths. With time and persistence, you can overcome imposter syndrome and achieve the success that you deserve.

Imposter syndrome is a common and challenging phenomenon that affects people from all walks of life. By recognising the feeling, identifying negative thoughts and beliefs, seeking support, focusing on accomplishments, embracing uniqueness, practising mindfulness, taking action, celebrating successes, and keeping practising, you can overcome imposter syndrome and achieve the success that you deserve.