What is Imposter Syndrome and how to get rid of it?
The impostor syndrome is an obsessive feeling of one's own unworthiness to occupy some place. For example, you took up a new activity - interesting, meaningful, which you dreamed about. Or maybe you got a promotion. And then thoughts appear in your head: “You are deceiving people. You don't match the status you achieved. Now the deception will be revealed, and you will die of shame.”
To understand how to get rid of impostor syndrome, you need to consider its characteristic belief system.
Where imposters come from: causes of insecurity
This syndrome has been studied in psychology since the seventies of the last century. It drew attention to itself in a study of women who did not admit that they deserved success in business. They attributed it to luck, personal charm, and any other causal, but not their personal merit.
It's not a diagnosis, it's not a mental disorder. It is a phenomenon that is a consequence of limiting beliefs.
- The main reasons for the impostor syndrome emergence:
- thinking stereotypes;
- low self-esteem;
- imposed negative self-image;
- unwillingness to change.
Regardless of the cause, impostor syndrome is often caused by the conventional wisdom that women are less successful than men at something. Women accept this "truth" and believe that they are given leniency, even if they honestly achieved the result with work and ability.
Future imposters come from cold, distant parents who demand high performance from their children at school and other pursuits. Unconsciously, they teach the child to depend on indicators, other people's opinions and approval. This is what causes the false sense of unworthiness, which is quite difficult to get rid of on your own.
Focusing on encouragement more than on his own satisfaction from the work, a person will strive to get to the external attributes of success. At the same time, feeling that he is always slipping from the coveted peak, where he is accepted without any conditions.
Inculcated negative beliefs are mental barriers in our path. For example, someone learned to play a musical instrument, but his interest in music was condemned by his parents. Trying himself on stage, a novice performer feels like a deceiver. After all, his mother said that he would not succeed as a musician. Therefore, psychologists help get rid of such a barrier by identifying its causes and working through them.
Side effects of imposter syndrome
- Imposter syndrome is accompanied by:
- fear of failure;
- the desire to stand out, to produce an effect;
- denial of one's abilities and talents;
- reliance on the recognition of others, and not on a personal sense of success.
The manifestations of fear of failure are varied. This is the desire to lose oneself in vigorous activity, the desire to draw attention to oneself, distrust of subordinates, excessive control of their activities.
Many impostors are perfectionists. They do not accept compliments and do not recognize their own achievements, believing that they could do better. But the incredibly high standards they set up themselves are obviously unattainable. Therefore, a new disappointment lies ahead.
The fear of not being up to par, of revealing oneself for incomplete knowledge of the matter leads to nervous exhaustion, depression and burnout.
How to overcome impostor syndrome
- Psychologists give recommendations, the use of which helps getting rid of negative thoughts.
If you are at the beginning of the journey, treat discomfort as an element of novelty. The growth process must be uncomfortable. Millions of people before you have felt the same way. Time will do its thing. It will cease being uncomfortable, you will overcome psychological discomfort over time.
It is known that those people go on the stage, the podium, the sports arena who want it, who dare. Remind yourself, "I'm here because I wanted to be here." There are more talented people, but they decided to be somewhere else now.
Remember Isaac Newton. The genius said: "I don't know who the world thinks I am. I'm just a boy playing on the shore with stones and shells in front of the great ocean that hides the truth."
You just do what you are interested in or what you have to do. You don't consider yourself special.
The world should not confirm anyone's expectations. You bring your personality to the activity. Therefore, you are different from others. Your personality is unique and uniqueness cannot fail to manifest itself.
Make yourself a priority. Your life and well-being is something more than what you do as part of your profession or study.
Focus on the value you bring people.
Regardless of the reasons that caused you insecurity in your abilities, it is better to get rid of this feeling. This will not only make you feel more confident, but also enjoy the task you are doing.
