4 Psychological Strategies to Deal With Imposter Syndrome
It's very common to feel an imposter at this age.
Sometimes I feel like I’m not good enough at my job.
Even though I’m still in, people are telling me I’m doing a good job, I still don’t believe them.
I think I’m experiencing Imposter syndrome.
Imposter Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where people doubt their skills, talents, or accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud”.
It’s very common with young people now and it’s causing a lot of stress.
In this article, I’ll share my favorite 4 strategies that will help you deal with imposter syndrome.
Become a Paid member with 25% off!
1 — Recognition of the problem
Imposter Syndrome isn’t something that’s exclusive to you; it’s something that many people struggle with, including highly successful people.
One prominent example is Serena Williams, an internationally acclaimed professional tennis player.
Despite her remarkable achievements, Williams has openly admitted to having felt like a fraud at times, demonstrating that these feelings can affect anyone, irrespective of their success or status.
The key takeaways here are:
Imposter Syndrome is widespread: Many people, even those at the top of their field, have experienced it.
You are not alone: This feeling of being an imposter is not unique to you.
It’s not a reflection of your actual abilities: Imposter Syndrome is more about feelings than reality.
A practical tip to help you manage Imposter Syndrome is to talk about your feelings with a trusted friend, or someone you trust.
Often, just talking about these feelings can help to reduce their intensity and provide some much-needed perspective.
2 — Challenge your negative thoughts
One helpful way to deal with Imposter Syndrome is by actively challenging your negative thoughts — this involves questioning and reassessing the validity of the self-doubts that you harbor.
Let’s get back to Serena Williams.
Despite her numerous titles and records, she sometimes questions the worthiness of her success.
But she counters these thoughts by reminding herself of her hard work, talent, and determination that led to her success.
Remember:
Negativity can be deceptive: Doubts and self-critical thoughts often distort the reality of our abilities and achievements.
Evidence trumps emotion: Counter your negative thoughts with factual evidence of your competence and accomplishments.
Practice makes perfect: The more you challenge your negative thoughts, the easier it will become to replace them with positive ones.
Challenging negative thoughts is not an overnight process.
It requires practice and persistence, but with time, it will become easier and lead to a more positive self-perception.
3 — Focus on your successes
One of the things that helps is to focus on the thing that is going well.
This doesn’t mean you should ignore your failures or areas for improvement; rather, it’s about recognizing and taking ownership of the achievements you’ve earned.
Lady Gaga, despite her vast success and global acclaim, has publicly admitted to dealing with imposter syndrome. But, rather than succumbing to these feelings, she uses her accomplishments as a constant reminder of her worthiness.
Here’s a practical exercise: keep a “brag file” or success journal.
Every time you achieve something — no matter how big or small — write it down.
Refer to this file whenever you’re questioning your abilities. Seeing a physical record of your accomplishments can make it much harder to deny your own success.
4 — Setting goals and reflecting
You need to set goals.
One of the most effective strategies to overcome imposter syndrome is to set specific, achievable goals and to take the time to reflect on them regularly.
Setting goals gives you a sense of direction and purpose, while reflecting on those goals can help validate your efforts and progress.
Start by identifying what you want to achieve, both in the short term and the long term — then break these larger goals down into smaller, more manageable steps that you can work towards daily.
Here’s a step-by-step process to implement this strategy:
Identify Your Goals: Define what you want to achieve, both in the short term and the long term.
Break Down Your Goals: Transform larger goals into smaller, achievable tasks.
Track Your Progress: Regularly record your progress towards these tasks and goals.
Reflect Regularly: Set aside time each week to reflect on your achievements and any obstacles you’ve encountered.
Learn and Use: Use your reflections to learn from your experiences and adapt your approach as necessary.
Final Thoughts
Although it’s difficult to do, Imposter Syndrome can be beaten.
In this video of Ali Abdaal, he explains how he tries to beat Imposter Syndrome; it’s a good idea to watch that video as well besides reading this article.
“The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.”
The key lies in acknowledging these feelings, challenging negative thoughts, focusing on your successes, and setting personal goals with regular reflections.
It’s through these proactive strategies that you can begin to build a resilient self-image and step out of the shadows of imposter syndrome.