Do you ever feel like a faker? You’re not alone. Nearly 6-in-10 people have felt like a fake at some point in their lives — and this feeling of being inferior is called “impostor syndrome.”
When we feel like an impostor, we think there’s something wrong with us and that someone will find out and see that we don’t deserve our current position. We worry about being exposed to the impostor we think we are. So how do you beat impostor syndrome?
What is the impostor syndrome, and why does it occur?
Impostor syndrome is a psychological term that is often used to describe an individual’s fear of not being good enough.
It also refers to the feeling of fraudulence, which is experienced by people who see themselves as being less capable than others.
The term impostor phenomenon was coined in 1978 by sociologist Pauline Rose Clance and clinical psychologist Suzanne Imes.
As per their research, this condition is more prevalent in women than it is in men.
What are some misconceptions about impostor syndrome?
People with impostor syndrome think that they do not deserve the success they have achieved and may feel like a fraud.
The study of impostor syndrome is relatively new, with most research conducted in the past two decades.
Mental health professionals can help people understand that it is not about being a fraud or about being stupid, but about feeling inadequate and having low self-confidence.
Constructive criticism can be used to help people work on their weak points.
How did you overcome impostor syndrome?
Seek Help
Feeling like a fake can be paralyzing, so feel free to reach out to someone when you’re having issues with your self-esteem. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or professional counselor, finding someone who has been through it can help — seeing someone like yourself who has come out the other end of feeling like an impostor can give you hope.
Don’t Shy Away from Challenges
Another reason people feel like an impostor is they’re too scared to fail. Experts say when we avoid challenges — especially after experiencing something like impostor syndrome — we’re not getting the chance to grow. If you’re feeling self-conscious and worry that it’ll eventually lead to you being exposed as a fraud, the solution is simple:
When you do get a challenge (a big one), tackle it head-on. To do this, you need to believe in yourself and own your mistakes. Accept that you’re going to fail at times, and that’s okay. When you accept it, it becomes easier to learn from your failures.
Be Open-Minded
Impostor syndrome can make you feel like you’re not good enough, but believe it or not; some people have more capabilities than you. To beat impostor syndrome, focus on being open-minded — remembering that there’s no one way to succeed and that everyone has strengths and weaknesses.
Even if you feel like your accomplishments may pale compared to someone else’s, remember that what matters is how you feel about yourself.
When it comes down to it, impostor syndrome is just feeling — a psychological mechanism to protect us from feeling inferior. And just as people go through periods of feeling inadequate or not good enough throughout their lives, they also eventually get over those feelings.
Through time, people tend to reevaluate their self-worth and become more confident in themselves. In fact, as you grow and learn more about yourself, you can move on from feeling like a fake to accepting that being an impostor is just part of life.
How to support someone with impostor syndrome?
Impostor syndrome is a way to describe the feelings of people who are convinced they are frauds and know that others will eventually find out about it. They feel like they don’t deserve their success and might be capable of being successful in other fields.
Some personality traits have been linked to the impostor experience including high levels of achievement motivation, feelings of entitlement, perfectionism, and low self-esteem.
There is no one specific treatment for people with impostor syndrome. Therapeutic intervention can help with addressing underlying causes while also helping the person develop a sense of achievement while overcoming this feeling that they are frauds.
Quick Summary
Impostor syndrome is a psychological experience of intellectual fraudulence. It is the fraudulent feeling that one’s success is due to luck or bureaucratic error.
Impostor syndrome affects high-performing individuals, who are unable to internalize their accomplishments and instead remain convinced they are not intelligent, talented, or creative.
People who experience impostor syndrome got feelings of inadequacy and believe they have been successful by luck or mistake. This can be damaging to their careers and lead to feelings of social isolation.
The treatment of impostor syndrome includes seeking therapy, talking with mentors, and building a strong network of family and friends for support.
