4 Tips To Cope with Imposter Syndrome
To put it simply, Imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a phoney or a quack, as if you’re about to be discovered as a fraud, and you don’t deserve to be where you are now and are only there by luck or chance. Imposter syndrome can affect anyone irrespective of social class, employment history, skill level or academic degree.
Imposter syndrome manifests itself in a variety of ways including:
An inability to judge your competence and skills realistically
Giving the credit to external forces for your achievements
Fear of not living up to expectations
Unnecessarily criticizing your work
Self-doubt
Sabotaging your progress
While Imposter syndrome can increase ambition to achieve for some people, it usually comes at a cost in the form of persistent anxiety. To “ensure” that no one discovers they are phoney, they may over-prepare or labour far harder than necessary. You’re doing great and you deserve to be where you are.
Let’s now see the tips you can inculcate to cope with imposter syndrome.
1. Accept, verify and then release
It does not make your thoughts any less valid just because your perceptions of events are personal stories rather than facts. It’s not about disregarding what you think when it comes to overcoming impostor syndrome. Rather, a great method to combat this feeling is to identify that you’re not feeling at your best, validate that it’s fine then release those feelings if they are not justified.
2. Make a list of your accomplishments
It can be quite refreshing to have a tangible reminder of your achievements when you are feeling blue. Save any emails from your boss or co-workers thanking you for your good job on a project in a separate folder. This would feel fulfilling when nothing seems to be moving your way.
3. Get rid of Perfectionism
Take regular breaks, use relaxation techniques, and focus on the big picture to overcome perfectionist tendencies. Learn how to set realistic, challenging and attainable objectives for yourself. At the same time, keep in mind that mistakes are inevitable in life. Making mistakes shows that you’re not scared and is an opportunity to learn.
4. Talk to other people
A talk with a person who knows you and cares about you might sometimes help you recognize that imposter feelings are both understandable and unreasonable. Speak to trusted friends and family about your worries and listen to them confirm that you’re actually as great as you are. Your worries may all just be in your head.
You should also seek to speak to a professional for guidance on how to navigate through your feelings. Here at the hub, we want you to know what you're actually worth it and do not keep selling yourself short!