Crealanta Magazine

The Best Way to Beat Imposter Syndrome

Dec 8, 2022

Do you ever feel that the world is working against your best interests? Are you left with the sensation of inadequacy even though you have seen some accomplishments?

      Fake. Lucky. Failure. Unusual. Insecure. Fraudulent. Undeserving. Discovered.  

If any of the above words make an impression on your, you could be suffering with Imposter Syndrome.

What is imposter syndrome?

"Imposters" suffer from perpetual self-doubt. They also are more likely to feel like an intellectual fraud, making it difficult to accept any sense of achievement or evidence from outside of their abilities. Imposters are unable to internalize their achievements, no matter how their success may achieve in their field.

People who are highly motivated and successful will be susceptible to the imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is closely associated with perfectionists. Impostor syndrome is a problem for all sorts of people across all facets of their lives including men and women medical students, managers of marketing acting, executives... The list is endless! If you identify with the imposter-like feelings be assured that you're not the only one.

However, it is very common to feel alone and lonely with this sense of feeling like an outsider in your own life. It is possible to believe there is no one else who is aware of the issues you're dealing and feels unworthy or inadequate just like you. The truth is different.

In this article we share the impact that the Imposter Syndrome can have on other people as well as what it felt like in their unique circumstances. You will learn that the universe is at your disposal if you let it, and that you can overcome the impostor's feelings in a healthy and empathic manner.

The consequences of imposter syndrome

There are times where some self-doubt as well as competitiveness are necessary for us to be successful in difficult or unfamiliar environments. Acknowledging that you don't know everything opens you to new learning opportunities. Insecure people teach the need to be flexible and evolve to our environment for the sake of growing. The imposter phenomenon takes it a couple of steps too far, and engrains within our heads an anxiety about failure as well as shame.

Imposter syndrome is typically a problem for those who are highly motivated, focused by high-performance. It's usually associated with perfectionism, which refers to those having high personal standards, being organized, orderly as well as striving for perfect outcomes. Although impostors and perfectionists are equally motivated to be successful, perfectionists are driven by internal demands of having the highest standards. Impostors are motivated by their internal thoughts of intellectual fraud.

An analysis found that nearly 80% of people, especially ethic minority groups feel they are suffering from imposter syndrome. Rather than thinking they're intelligent, skilled capable, skilled, or deserving and deserved, many feel that they aren't part of the group.

While the imposter phenomenon isn't actually a clinical diagnosis but research has proven that the impostor syndrome is linked to adverse mental health effects which include depression and anxiety. Additionally, those who possess an excessive amount of feelings of impostor are more susceptible to having low levels of self-esteem.

Imposter syndrome is particularly prevalent among people with underrepresented identities. Feelings of insecurity or self-doubt were found to be common among BIPOC people, who are usually not represented in higher education or work environments across North America. When compared to white counterparts, they are more likely to suffer from this phenomenon. The study also found that transgender and non-binary people experience a similar phenomenon that has an internal sense of not being 'woman or manly enough' within their fields and being viewed by the public to think they are a fraud.

A lot of us have felt feelings of doubt and unworthiness at one point or another in our lives. Impostor syndrome is a problem in situations where your achievements are the consequence of your own experience, hard work, and preparation, yet you still feel unworthy.

We've gathered a few personal experiences of those who have felt the impact of the imposter syndrome we have provided tips on how to overcome the imposter syndrome.

What does imposter syndrome be to you?

Here are some of the stories that people graciously told us about their experiences.

Names have been changed to guarantee the privacy of our customers.

Meet Rebecca.

      Rebecca is a 24-year female who has recently been hired at a car rental firm as the operations manager. Her job is to supervise and control the jobs of several middle-aged men.  

      "I feel like I don't feel like I belong here. As a woman of a younger age, I'm not regarded as a respected person within this field that's mostly full of older men who look at me like I'm not their superior. I am someone that they have to respect when I give them a task to complete, even if they choose not to. I am the one they look at and whisper to me behind my back about why they don't need to answer to me. The problem is that, though I love my job but it's difficult to demonstrate that I'm capable of. Sometimes, I lose sight of my own capabilities - if the people who I work with aren't seeing my potential, how can I accept it myself? Even though my accomplishments are assessed and acknowledged, being around those who question your capabilities causes me to question my own abilities."  

    Aaron. Aaron.    

      Aaron is a part of the same software engineering company for the past five years. He is a respected employee who is hardworking and a valuable member of the company's team. He is aware that he's an asset to the company, yet isn't doing enough to be acknowledged as such.  

      "I have been working in my present position for some time and am currently. I'm aware that I'm not the best at ensuring that I'm recognized for my efforts. My performance is praised with awe by my supervisor. I have overseen countless projects that I worked extremely at and that were very successful. I don't understand how I am able to gain a promotion and ask for an increment. The people must believe that I'm well-off. Maybe I don't deserve it? I debate on whether I do or don't. It seems like I need to be more convincing."  

    Begin with Camila.    

      Camila has quit her 9-5 corporate job in order to pursue a profession as a content creator. She feels motivated yet overwhelmed at the same time. It is hard for her not to feel inadequate or unauthentic while working towards her goals.  

      "I have a very clear awareness of the fact that I'm advertising myself for the world to observe. Putting yourself out there on social media as an influencer within an area of specialization will permit people to immediately label you and make judgments about your character. The majority of comments that I receive are positive. The worst ones do not come from the people who hide behind screens - they come from me. I find it hard to avoid criticizing myself, and this can cause feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, fear as well as feeling like an unauthentic person. I just signed my biggest brand contract yet, and instead of being thrilled I began to think 'when are they gonna discover they've committed a mistake?'"  

Get to know Jamal.

      Jamal is an African-American young man who has struggled with imposter syndrome for his whole life. He has worked hard and has made it to the highest of his class, and has earned numerous scholarships at some of the best universities in the country. However, he feels as though he got lucky with his scholarships and seems not in the right place.  

      "My entire life my family struggled. We didn't come from a rich neighborhood or a beautiful part of the city. My mother was shocked that even one of her kids had the ability to stick it out in high school. Life was tough at times for us. But we managed. Today, I'm accepted to the top school in my area and have sufficient grades to sustain my own expenses while at the university. I can't help but think whether they offered me scholarships because they know that I'm black and want to make the school more diverse, or if I actually got the money. Being one of the only students of color at my high school makes me think that my college experience won't have a lot of difference. The amount of times I was asked where I'm from and how'd come to be here, makes me question if I actually have a place in the world. All I know is that white folks aren't ever confronted with these kinds of questions."  

    Begin with Inges.

      Inges has been writing for some time. She has gotten jobs she used to only imagine. She has had lots of successes in her professional career so far but often is viewed as a scammer.  

      "I love my job. If I had to start my new life all over again, I would still choose to write. Although I often find myself wandering around in a rabbit hole... even if I love my job so many times, why do always feel out of place? It's not uncommon for me to feel anxious, and I find myself worried when writing. A lot of people look up to my writing. Ha! I don't know how these people believe in what I'm writing about - I am very aware of the numerous things I'm not aware of. I often feel like I am not smart enough to be in this position of spreading the power of knowledge."  

How can I overcome the the imposter syndrome?

Impostor syndrome makes people believe that their academic and professional achievements aren't because of their own abilities in terms of skills or intellect instead, they are due to external influences that are a result of work, luck, and receiving help from others.

It is important that we allow these doubts and doubts the ability to prevent us from taking the steps required to meet our targets and the highest goals.

If you're feeling like you're suffering from impostor condition, be aware that you can combat those feelings to be able gain your confidence back.

  These are helpful tips on how to overcome imposter syndrome:  

Feel these feelings when they arise

It's easy to brush aside the symptoms of impostor syndrome that come into our lives every day. However, acknowledging these signs when they arise is the first step to discovering how to beat the imposter syndrome.

Signs you may suffer from the an impostor syndrome

  • You always feel like that you were lucky the times you've put in the effort
  • You find yourself apologizing when you didn't actually do something wrong
  • You're an expert with extremely demanding standards
  • You find it difficult to receive the praise of others.
  • There is no feeling that the work you're doing is enough

Take note of the way you speak about yourself and with others, particularly when discussing your work or school. The way you speak can be an excellent indicator to determine if you are dealing with Imposter Syndrome. If you feel that you are achieving success, or receiving applause makes you discomfort, take some time to consider what those opinions came from, and the meaning they could have.

    Show yourself some empathy    

Do your best to be kind to yourself. It's as simple as changing your own inner dialogue, the way that you communicate with yourself in your head, by focusing on positive self-talk.

Negative self-talk can be a detrimental habit, and could greatly affect the level of stress and anxiety.

It can also help to zoom out and consider what your present situation compares to where you were one or five, earlier. Your accomplishments are ones which your future self would be happy about. Remember to show some compassion toward yourself.

Also, it is important to keep in mind that the achievements you have made are not tied to the value you bring. When overcoming imposter syndrome, learn to recognize the feelings of anxiety and recognize that you're completely fine the way you are, even without your accomplishments.

    Find support    

Be aware that you're not all on your own.

Share what you're going through with your fellow colleagues, whether it is with your counselor, a friend as well as a colleague, mentor or even your boss. It is better to engage in an open discussion rather than suffer in silence by focusing on negative thinking.

The sharing of what you're going through will make you better prepared to tackle your impostor syndrome, as well as help you understand your own value.

    Release your inner perfectionist    

The concept of perfectionists is the kryptonite for imposter syndrome. While it can be useful in certain situations however, it could also prove to be a major downfall for performance and self-confidence when it comes to imposter syndrome.

Many people who suffer from impostor syndrome are top performers, setting an impossibly high standard for themselves and are determined to be the top of the line.

It's detrimental for your mental well-being constantly comparing yourself to the perfect outcome that isn't achievable or even realistic. Striving for perfectionism is often unproductive and could cause you to feel like an unworthy person.

It's crucial to keep in mind the importance of practicing self-compassion. Being aware of the thoughts you make and your actions can help you let go of perfectionism.

When you set your own standards to ensure success, it will be easier to internalize your worth. Concentrating on the progress you've made instead of striving to be perfect will help you overcome Imposter Syndrome.

    Rewire your brain    

It all begins with watching the messages when they pop up within your head. The impostor syndrome usually manifests in the form of a voice within our minds that tries to beat us with negative statements that include "you're untrue" or "I don't deserve what I have achieved."

Notice when your impostor feelings arise and the way you react to these feelings. Practicing mindfulness can help you remain aware and present with your thoughts and feelings. This is an especially important technique, because the phenomenon of impostor is numb and unfocused. It will help you consciously shift your thinking in a different direction.

Psychologists have discovered that repetition of affirmations that are positive can help combat the feeling of imposter syndrome. They may reduce anxiety levels and stress, because these positive statements create a bridge to your subconscious mind.

Affirmations positive to treatment for imposter syndrome comprise:

  • I'm a sturdy and competent person
  • I don't need to be perfect in order to succeed.
  • I've been able to earn my place in this world.
  • I'm confident in my ability
  • I'm an asset for any team
  • I release any self-doubt that I have

    Visualize (and your own) your success    

It wasn't luck by luck. Be sure to take ownership of your success!

Those who often fear being "found out" have a tendency to attribute their success to external factors - like luck or a helping hand. The imposter syndrome sufferers are unable to recognize that the success they have achieved is an outcome of their own internal forces that include the hard work, talent, determination, and intelligence.

It could be beneficial to keep track of your progress so that you are able to keep it in the eye. Write down any details that will help you visualize your accomplishments, for instance, the amount of views per month your blog has received as well as jotting down positive reviews or messages that people have left for to you, etc.

Also, if someone congratulates your accomplishments, take the time to reflect about their praise. Take note of how you respond, and aim to speak more positively about yourself. This can help you internalize your accomplishments.

    Acknowledge your learning curves    

Everyone has subconscious blocks - things that hold us back from our goals. Being aware that you're not knowledgeable about all the answers is another method to overcome the mental barriers of perfectionists and get rid of the learning curves that come with Imposter Syndrome.

Also, it is important to recognize your failures. Make sure you value constructive criticism. Request help when you need it. Discussing things that did not work out for you with other people allows you to realize that a lot of times, other people are struggling also.

Learning from these failures is a vital step when learning to get over imposter syndrome. it is possible to see the fact that failure isn't just anything but an opportunity for growth and improvement.

    Accept your feelings    

The battle against those feelings of the imposter syndrome does not mean they won't come back once more. There is always a chance confronted with fresh situations, emotions, or challenges in life.

Imposter Syndrome is a pattern of thinking that leads us to doubt our abilities and accomplishments. While you may have those feeling of being a "fraud" come up at times, it's important to recognize why those emotions are there. Staying present with all of your feelings will enable you to be aware of the feelings you are experiencing, rather than having to let yourself slide down that downward spiral of mindless negative and self-doubt.

Utilizing the knowledge that you've learned about how to avoid imposter syndrome, you will be able recognize whenever you fall into that critical and harsh thought pattern. If you recognize your emotions this allows you to recognize what you require to alter and change your path.

Conclusion  Conclusion

Imposter Syndrome's negative effects are felt by many more people than you think. When we talk about it and connecting with other people who suffer from this common unpleasant trait, we start to realize that we aren't alone.

Here is a quote from Michelle Obama on her book tour in support of her best-selling Becoming.

      "I still have a little impostor syndrome... It doesn't disappear, the feeling that I shouldn't be taken this seriously. What do I know? I share that with you because everyone has doubts about our abilities, about the power we have and about what this power actually is."  

It's empowering to feel like you're not the only one with this thought. Being aware of the thoughts working against us will allow us to take the power away from our unconscious and allow us to confidently reach the goals we set and take ownership of our success.

If you're suffering from an Impostor syndrome, we're hoping this guide to overcoming the impostor syndrome has provided you with methods to achieve the highest level of self-esteem, and revel in all the splendor and deserving of success.