Have you ever felt like you don’t deserve the success you have because you “did not work hard enough for it” or thought that it’s fake and it’ll go away? In your head, this might sound reasonable, but success, either built overnight or steadily, is not going anywhere if you are doing the right things.
Some other symptoms are thinking, for example, that no matter what you achieve you often feel not competent enough or have little to no confidence in your abilities. Or you feel like despite having earned your job your colleague is more capable of doing the same task as you, despite being qualified equally.
This condition was defined in the medical area in 1978 and studies have shown that it is characteristic in professional women, even though anyone can experience it. This is why having the right tools and skills can aid in leaving your anxiety behind to be the best version of yourself.
Some helpful mechanisms to overcome imposter syndrome have to do with grounding yourself. But what does this mean? When having any self-doubt thoughts, you need to remember how far you have come. At the same time, assessing the situation and asking yourself where this might be coming from helps you understand why you are acting the way you are acting. These thoughts might come from fear of failure, or fear of asking for help, yet by identifying them you can learn what is it that you need to change or work on.
Secondly, you need to take a breath. Success takes time, you will learn and fail and get back up. It’s not a perfect process but the results are rewarding. So by being kind to yourself and learning to take a breath when things get hard, you will reduce your chances of doubt because you know that what you are doing is getting you where you want to be.
And lastly, relying on a good network and reaching out for help. If things start getting overwhelming you can discuss things over coffee with a mentor or peer. Or simply you can ask for advice on what they would do if they were in your position. Having a second opinion can help to bring light not only where you might be having problems but also what you have accomplished.
In conclusion, imposter syndrome can affect anyone and it’s important to recognize when it is happening but also to ground yourself, take a breath, and ask for help. While following these steps you will start becoming more confident within yourself and ultimately reach your goals in a healthy mindset.