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10 TIPS FOR OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME & SELF-DOUBT
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." — Mark Twain
Did you know that an estimated 70% of people experience "Imposter Syndrome" at some point in their lives, according to a review article published in the International Journal of Behavioral Science.
Yes, more often than not we fail to see how much this feeling of self-doubt suppresses our courage to go after new opportunities, explore potential areas of interest, and put ourselves out there in a meaningful way.
Imposter Syndrome, the idea that you’ve only succeeded due to luck and not because of your talent or qualifications; was adopted by clinical psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, after studies showed that despite obvious adequate external evidence of accomplishments, most successful people remained convinced that they don’t deserve the success they have and often dismiss it as luck, good timing, or as others’ believing they were smarter, more intelligent, and more competent than they actually are. Although early research from the psychologists' work focused on high-achieving women, the syndrome has actually been found to impact men and women in equal numbers.
After reviewing the research, Dr. Valerie Young found these subgroups of people who are more likely to experience imposter syndrome:
The Perfectionist - They have such high expectations for themselves that even small mistakes will make them feel like a failure.
The Superwoman/Superman – They put in longer hours, never take days off and must succeed in all aspects of life in order to prove they are the “real deal.”
The Natural Genius – They are used to things coming easily, so when something is too hard or they don’t master it on the first try, they feel shame and self-doubt.
The Soloist – They don’t like to ask for help, so when they do, they feel like a failure or a fraud.
The Expert - They continuously seek out additional certifications or training because they feel as though they will never know enough to be truly qualified.
10 TIPS TO HELP YOU OVERCOME SELF-DOUBT & IMPOSTER SYNDROME:
1. Acknowledge and observe the imposter thought but don't engage it.
2. Reframe your thoughts to resonate constructive feedback.
3. Accept that you're human, that you sometimes make mistakes, and that it is okay to seek help when needed.
4. Be honest about what qualities or skills you need to work on, stop making excuses, do the work.
5. Keep close friends and mentors who encourage and motivate you towards greater achievement.
6. Open your mind and seek out fun ways to learn those career or life skills you haven't mastered well enough.
7. Acknowledge your struggle, have compassion on yourself, and remember that imperfection is a part of our shared human experience.
8. Make more decisions on what feels right to you, and seek less validation from others.
9. Always remember it is better to try and fail, than to not try at all.
10. Think about your track-record of progress made in the past and use them as justification that you can take on more challenges and succeed.
"Trust yourself—you know more than you think you do." — Benjamin Spock
© elileojo
Did you know that an estimated 70% of people experience "Imposter Syndrome" at some point in their lives, according to a review article published in the International Journal of Behavioral Science.
Yes, more often than not we fail to see how much this feeling of self-doubt suppresses our courage to go after new opportunities, explore potential areas of interest, and put ourselves out there in a meaningful way.
Imposter Syndrome, the idea that you’ve only succeeded due to luck and not because of your talent or qualifications; was adopted by clinical psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, after studies showed that despite obvious adequate external evidence of accomplishments, most successful people remained convinced that they don’t deserve the success they have and often dismiss it as luck, good timing, or as others’ believing they were smarter, more intelligent, and more competent than they actually are. Although early research from the psychologists' work focused on high-achieving women, the syndrome has actually been found to impact men and women in equal numbers.
After reviewing the research, Dr. Valerie Young found these subgroups of people who are more likely to experience imposter syndrome:
The Perfectionist - They have such high expectations for themselves that even small mistakes will make them feel like a failure.
The Superwoman/Superman – They put in longer hours, never take days off and must succeed in all aspects of life in order to prove they are the “real deal.”
The Natural Genius – They are used to things coming easily, so when something is too hard or they don’t master it on the first try, they feel shame and self-doubt.
The Soloist – They don’t like to ask for help, so when they do, they feel like a failure or a fraud.
The Expert - They continuously seek out additional certifications or training because they feel as though they will never know enough to be truly qualified.
10 TIPS TO HELP YOU OVERCOME SELF-DOUBT & IMPOSTER SYNDROME:
1. Acknowledge and observe the imposter thought but don't engage it.
2. Reframe your thoughts to resonate constructive feedback.
3. Accept that you're human, that you sometimes make mistakes, and that it is okay to seek help when needed.
4. Be honest about what qualities or skills you need to work on, stop making excuses, do the work.
5. Keep close friends and mentors who encourage and motivate you towards greater achievement.
6. Open your mind and seek out fun ways to learn those career or life skills you haven't mastered well enough.
7. Acknowledge your struggle, have compassion on yourself, and remember that imperfection is a part of our shared human experience.
8. Make more decisions on what feels right to you, and seek less validation from others.
9. Always remember it is better to try and fail, than to not try at all.
10. Think about your track-record of progress made in the past and use them as justification that you can take on more challenges and succeed.
"Trust yourself—you know more than you think you do." — Benjamin Spock
© elileojo
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