IMPOSTER SYNDROME

WHAT IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME?

Imposter syndrome (IS) is an internal experience of believing that you are not good enough and you are not as competent as others perceive you. This definition is usually applied to intelligence and achievement but it has links to perfectionism and the social context.

In simple language, imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a sham and a feeling as though at any moment you are going to be found out to be a fake person. You do not belong where you are now, and you only got there through dumb luck. It can affect anyone no matter their social status, work background, level of skills, or degree of expertise.

IMPOSTER SYNDROME
IMPOSTER SYNDROME

COMMON SIGNS OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME CAN BE

  • An inability to realistically assess your capabilities and skills
  • Connect your success with external factors
  • Criticizing your performance
  • Fear that you will not live up to the expectations of others
  • Overachieving goals
  • Self-sabotaging your success
  • Doubting your self
  • Setting challenging goals and feeling disappointed when you fail to achieve

For most people, imposter syndrome also may induce feelings of motivation to achieve their goals. This usually can come in the form of constant anxiety. You may over-prepare or work much harder than required to make sure that nobody finds out you are a fraud. The problem with this is that the experience of being good at something does nothing to change your beliefs. The more you keep achieving, the more you feel like a fraud. It is as though you cannot internalize your experiences of success.

This sets up a toxic cycle, in which you may think that the only reason you survived that presentation was that you stayed up all night rehearsing it. Or, you think the only reason you got through that party or gathering was that you memorized every detail about all the guests so that you would have ideas for small talk.

CAUSES OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME

  • A result of a very controlling upbringing
  • New school or workplace
  • Personality traits include perfectionism, neuroticism, low self-esteem
  • Social anxiety

STOP DOUBTING YOURSELF. LOVE YOURSELF AND FIND PEACE WITHIN YOURSELF!

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