How long have you felt like this? What sparked it or has it always been there? What would you give to feel confident again? Research suggests that 70% of people have experienced impostor syndrome at some point during their career, you are not alone!
What is Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor Syndrome - It is real! Its the feeling you only got where you are because of luck, you doubt your own abilities and feel like someone will call you out any day now. The phrase was first identified in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, back then the research suggested this mostly affected women, studies since indicate the tables are turning and men are more likely to suffer with phenomenon. It even affects the rich and famous, Emma Watson, Sheryl Sandberg, and Sonia Sotomayor have also admitted to feeling like they'll be found out for the frauds they are.
How to overcome?
Acknowledgement - To deal with a problem means you must first acknowledge you have a problem, but why is impostor syndrome an issue? It leads to a lack of self-confidence, anxiety and will hold you back in your career. Knowing you are suffering is the first step to overcoming the issue.
Self-Aware - Being aware of when you feel this way will help identify where is is coming from. You can then start to catch the feeling before it snowballs out of control. The mind is very powerful and quickly turn little gremlin voices into giant monsters, however it also as the opposite ability to squash the little gremlin voices. Imagine a large mallet flatten the toxic words before they take hold.
Love you for love - Start being your own cheerleader, keep a note of all the positive things that happen in your life, celebrate small successes and keep emails or write down the beautiful words people say about you. It is a great reminder of who you really area. A very dear friend told me recently I was a "beautiful soul" what an amazing way to be describes and a little pick-me-up in my back pocket whenever I need it.
Whilst the phenomenon might be real, the words you are telling yourself simply cant be, no one could be that lucky and not have come unstuck at some stage, real fraudsters know they are and why they are. Start challenging the myth today!
