Of all the words used in the English language, the one I hate to hear the most is the term “Imposter Syndrome”. I first heard this term being used by someone a couple of years ago to describe someone who felt like they did not deserve to be in a managerial position at work. Before that, I had never heard of imposter syndrome. I had no idea what it meant.
Imposter Syndrome is a term used to describe people who experience self-doubt about their skills and abilities and feel like a fraud.
In a training session, someone mentioned that people like me (not her exact words) tend to experience imposter syndrome.
I was very offended by what she said because I had never heard of these words before and I don’t know anyone, not even myself, who has ever experienced imposter syndrome.
When I looked up the meaning of the term, I realized that anybody, regardless of race, nationality, or educational background, can experience imposter syndrome.
So how do you overcome negative thoughts caused by such horrible words?
Talk about it with someone you trust.
One of the ways to combat the imposter phenomenon is to start a conversation about it. You may be surprised that other people may have been experiencing the same feeling of self-doubt.
By talking to a trusted friend, teacher, pastor, or mentor, you may discover that you’re not alone and this may provide you with some relief. They may be able to make some suggestions to help you to quiet down your inner critic.
Remind yourself of all of your accomplishments.
Unfortunately, we tend to focus more on criticisms from others than on the praise they give us when we do a good job.
The next time you receive positive feedback, make a mental note of what is being said. Remind yourself that your accomplishments are a result of your hard work, skills, and knowledge.
It may also help if you write down your positive experiences. You can read through them to give you a mental boost the next time self-doubt invades your thoughts.
Stop comparing yourself to others.
Everyone has different aspirations and ambitions. People develop at different stages in life. So it doesn’t make sense to compare your achievements against the achievements of others because it will only make you feel unworthy.
For example, you may be tempted to compare your writing skills to that of a bestselling author. You may feel like your writing is not good enough and maybe wish that you could write like them. But you need to remind yourself that everyone has a different writing style. The bestselling author may have over 20 years of experience whereas you have just begun your writing career.
Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on improving your skills and building your self-confidence. Celebrate your strengths and work on overcoming your weaknesses.
Stop trying to be perfect.
People tend to think that aiming for perfection would help them to combat imposter syndrome and improve productivity, but this can actually be counterproductive.
You may become frustrated and feel like a fraud if you are not able to achieve the extremely high standards you set for yourself. Striving for perfection can be a stumbling block to overcoming imposter syndrome so you need to let go of this destructive habit.
Allow yourself to make mistakes once in a while and don’t be hard on yourself when things don’t go your way. It’s unrealistic to think that you can be perfect at everything you do.
When you make a mistake, acknowledge it, accept it, and then move on instead of examining every detail and wondering how to make it perfect.
Think positive thoughts.
Our thoughts, whether it’s positive or negative, can influence the way we approach the world. When we tend to let our negative feelings dominate our thoughts, it can cause us to be filled with self-doubt, giving in to imposter syndrome.
For example, you may have thoughts like, “She’s better than me,” or “I’m not good enough.” If you tend to have these destructive thoughts you can use self-affirmation to drive them away.
Every morning when you get up, say something positive to yourself such as “I am healthy and strong,” or “I’m grateful to be alive.”
You can also write down positive affirmations on a card and leave it on your desk at work. Self-affirmation can be a very effective method for helping to get rid of imposter syndrome.
Talk to a Therapist
You shouldn’t have to deal with imposter syndrome alone. If the above methods aren’t working for you, the next best step is to speak to your GP (doctor) who can refer you to a therapist.
Feelings of self-doubt can be overwhelming and could lead to depression and low self-esteem. Talking to a healthcare professional can help you to overcome these discouraging thoughts.
The therapist can help you to understand what triggers these negative thoughts and the various strategies you can use to get rid of them. They will help you to recognize that imposter syndrome is a very common condition that is experienced by 77% of people in the UK (Psychreg.org).
Therefore, it is highly likely that some of your colleagues at work feel this way too. Many overachievers have also suffered from imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. It is essential to know that you are not alone and that you don’t have to suffer in silence from imposter syndrome anymore.
READ MORE
Six Must-Read Books to Help You Improve Your Life
