Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Navigating Self-Doubt and Embracing Your Success

Fear is something endemic to humanity. Everyone fears something, be it spiders, heights, the dark, or any number of other things. However, not every fear has an external source. Many fears come from within, anxieties that become a default state and linger like the spray of a skunk that feels impossible to wash away. Few fears are as difficult to overcome as self-doubt, the feeling that you're not good enough and that your success is unearned. This lingering doubt is known as Imposter Syndrome, a recurring feeling of being unworthy of your own success.

Imposter Syndrome can be more accurately characterized as a feeling that, despite your outward success, you are actually a fraud and have attained this success through deceit or dumb luck. Those with Imposter Syndrome often fear being "found out" as incompetent or deceiving those around them, even though they are perfectly capable and those around them recognize it. In short, there is a dissonance between how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you, with your self-image being much less impressive than the perception of you held by your peers.

The condition was first identified by psychologists Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance in 1978. Initially, it was thought to be more common in women, especially those in high-profile jobs. However, more modern research has shown it to occur frequently across all genders. It has also been found that people of color working in predominantly white workplaces experience it at higher than average rates. The causes of Imposter Syndrome are not well understood, but they could range from various factors, both internal and external, such as one's background or innate personality. It has even been suggested to be a result of cultural pressures. While it is not classified as a mental health condition per se, it is a challenge that many people contend with every day from all walks of life.

Overcoming an internalized fear is not an easy task, but there are ways to deal with Imposter Syndrome. Simply reminding yourself of your true capabilities can sometimes do the job, as can sharing your concerns with someone you trust outside of the situation where you are experiencing self-doubt. Being kind to yourself in general also helps – celebrate your victories and ease up on your own sense of perfectionism, and you'll go much further. Above all, no matter what, just remember that you are wonderful, talented, and loved.

Reference:

APA Monitor. (2021, June). The cover of impostor phenomenon. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2021/06/cover-impostor-phenomenon.