Imposter Syndrome: What It Is And How It Affects Us
Imposter syndrome. Ever heard of it? Some of you may be very familiar with this condition. It’s that feeling you get when you’re stepping out of your comfort zone and you have that overwhelming fear or anxiety that you will not be capable. It’s that thought that everyone will see you and know that you are a fraud. It’s that mean inner critic that says, “You can’t do that- don’t even try!” or “Everyone knows you’re not that qualified, you should retreat before you get exposed”. These statements are usually not even true, but come from our own inner insecurities. Let’s look at imposter syndrome in a real life example:
Say you’ve been asked to do a presentation for school, or lead a group in your church. You may be excited and enthusiastic initially, but as the excitement wears off, the self-doubt can begin to creep in. You may ask yourself, “Can I even do this?” and start to question your capabilities. Imposter syndrome may rear its ugly head when you get ready to step up to the plate, reassuring you that people will see right through you and accuse you of not knowing what you’re talking about.
Does this sound familiar? There can be several reasons for imposter syndrome. For one, imposter syndrome may be a method of self-protection. Whenever we step out of our comfort zone, it can increase anxiety and expose areas of self-doubt. In order to protect ourselves from humiliation or rejection, imposter syndrome tells us to back off, that area isn’t safe! It may give us a false sense of safety and prevent us from ever taking risks and achieving things that we have always wanted to. Imposter syndrome is also very common in high-achieving individuals. It can cause two reactions, which are important to recognize and be aware of in yourself. Imposter syndrome can cause procrastination- say you’ve been asked to lead a group, and due to the nagging voices of self-doubt, you keep putting off preparing for the group. Or, on the other hand, it can cause over-preparation. This is more common among perfectionists. Overpreparation can look like exhausting yourself with all the tasks (and more) before the actual event in order to lessen all chances of looking like an imposter. Sounds pretty exhausting, right?
So what do we do about it? First- be aware of it. Notice when your feeling those anxieties or hearing a critical inner voice. Secondly, when you’re experiencing that negative inner voice and feeling discouraged, practice self compassion. Speak kindly to yourself, for example, “No one has it all together perfectly. I am doing the best I can with what I know. It’s okay to feel this way”. Next, list your strengths. Make a list of things you do well or have done well. Focus on your successes. If you accomplished something in the past, remind yourself of that, and that you are capable of accomplishing more! Finally, illicit community. Talk to close friends about your feelings, be vulnerable. You will probably find that others deal with imposter syndrome as well and that you are not alone.
The more that you practice stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing past imposter syndrome with these tools, the more confident you will become in yourself and your capabilities, and eventually imposter syndrome will quit rearing it’s ugly head every time you step out. It just takes perseverance, self-awareness and compassion, and having a support system. You can do this!
