How To Turn Imposter Syndrome Into Strength

How many times have you become excited about a goal? You start working at it, doing everything in your power to succeed. And then, suddenly, a wave of doubt rolls in. Perhaps, it was a dream job, an activity, an athletic achievement, or even a relationship that you worked hard for. Instead of focusing on the accomplishment and the success of the achieved goal, you start to doubt your abilities. You begin to wonder whether you are truly good enough, whether you deserve this success. Am I really a good fit for it? Did I get there for any other reasons? How long would it take for the others to realize I am not good enough for this? Do I belong here?

What Is Imposter Syndrome

The term was first coined by psychologists Suzanna Imes and Pauline Rose Clance in the 1970s. The two had been researching the success of high-achieving women and needed a phrase, a “syndrome” to describe the inner struggles of the women. Since then, many studies have shown that it is widely experienced by men and women alike. It is estimated that 70% of people will experience it at least once in their personal or career lives (LINK to International Journal of Behavioral Science). 

Imposter syndrome is a lack of belief and trust in one’s own competence or success; essentially, one begins to feel like an imposter within their own life. The impostors attribute their successes to luck, the coincidence of circumstances, etc. People with impostor syndrome may think that they slipped through the system undetected; moreover, it is only a matter of time before others find out and expose them as fraud.

“Even though I had sold 70 million albums, there I was feeling like “I’m no good at this.”
— Jennifer Lopez

Imposter syndrome often pushes individuals to ignore their reality and instead see their life through a distorted view.  It may seem harmless or easily stoppable, but over time it may lead to anxiety and in some cases even depression.

 
Developmental Triggers

• Pressure from a family that highly values achievement
• Limited praise/support from parents regarding their child’s achievements 
• Critical family/friends in regards to success 
• Comparing to siblings and friends (as well as comparisons through social media)
• Job promotion
• Starting a new job
• Starting college or university

Types Of Imposter Syndrome Personalities

As mentioned above, most people will experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lives. However, certain types of personalities are more prone to developing it, as well as more prone to experiencing harsher symptoms later on.  

• The Perfectionist – This individual is rarely satisfied with their successes. Perfectionists focus on their mistakes, instead of their strengths. Oftentimes, they think that their work must be 100% perfect, 100% of the time, and, thus, they are rarely satisfied with their success. The constant pressure they place on themselves often results in the development of imposter syndrome as well as possible anxiety and depression. 
• The Superhero (superwoman/man) – They don’t think they have done enough work. They push themselves to work more and work harder. This can lead to anxiety and burnout.
• The Natural Genius – they set unrealistically high goals for themselves and then get disappointed when struggling to achieve them. This brings a feeling of inadequacy and a lack of competence.
• The Soloist – This person is very individualistic and refuses to accept help from others. They see asking for help as a sign of weakness or incompetence. Oftentimes, this leads to burnout and fatigue. 
• The Expert – This individual is very highly skilled but never satisfied with their level of understanding and knowledge. They always try to learn more.

“Trust yourself—you know more than you think you do.”
— Benjamin Spock

Solutions For Dealing With Imposter Syndrome 

Imposter syndrome is like a bad habit. As with any such learned behavior, the way to change is to redirect your attention to a different routine. The most important parts of a successful transition are awareness, time, and patience. We can’t change an old habit overnight. Just as it takes time to develop a bad habit, it takes time to learn a new one. Start working on the change in small steps. Stay aware of your tendency to self-doubt your abilities and allow time for the changes to exhibit themselves.

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Steps to replace the feeling of being an imposter are:

Learn to accept your mistakes and use them as a learning tool. Everybody makes mistakes. They are part of the learning process.

Focus on and celebrate your achievements, not your failures. We tend to focus on the negative parts of our work and ignore our achievements.

Stop comparing yourself to others. Comparing to others can only bring negative thoughts and reactions. Our brain always looks for what we don’t have. Take a step back and think of what you have and the fact that many people may only dream about having your achievements. One way to lower the level of comparison is by using social media in moderation. Social media is many things; however, often it proves to be a bragging platform. Think about what you post most often. Is it a true representation of your life – good and bad? Social media sets wrong expectations about life. People compare their lives to what they see on the screen and inevitably get disappointed by what they have and how they live.

Acknowledge your feelings. Talking about your feelings to close friends or a life coach can give you a different perspective. Share your doubts and feelings with someone who can encourage you. Stay away from people who have negative tendencies to criticize and focus on failures.
If you would like to talk to someone who can help you overcome the feeling of being an imposter or would just like someone to bounce ideas off of, please contact me! I offer a free 1-hour discovery session for new clients with no strings attached.

Smile! Even when you don’t feel like it, SMILE! Smiling makes us feel more confident and lowers stress levels. It also makes us appear more confident and even more competent.

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“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” — Seneca

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Conclusion

You don’t have to struggle through life feeling like an imposter in your day-to-day routine. The self-created negative image can be transformed into a positive one. Start the transition today. It will help you lead a fulfilling and more purposeful life. I would love to talk to you and help you get on the road to becoming the best version of you. I am here for you!

“When you know you’re ENOUGH!

When you stop focusing on all things that you’re not.
When you stop fussing over perceived flaws.
When you remove all imposed and unbelievable expectations on yourself.
When you start celebrating yourself more.
When you focus on all that you are.
When you start believing that your perceived flaws are just that – perception…”
― Malebo Sephodi