Imposter syndrome is a persistent feeling that one doesn’t belong. It can occur at any stage of a person’s career, and can often be triggered by certain circumstances.
The good news is that it’s something that you can get over. But it can be a tough road to travel.
- Recognize your feelings
If you struggle with imposter syndrome, recognizing your feelings can be a great first step. Identify the emotions you are feeling and write them down.
For example, you may have felt joy when you were interacting with a friend or proud when you passed a test. By identifying your emotions, you can learn to recognize and understand them more accurately.
Your emotions are a natural part of your human experience and shouldn’t be judged or ignored. Learning to accept your feelings without judgment will help you deal with them more effectively and move forward in life.
Reframe your thoughts to help fight the irrational voices that say you aren’t good enough. For example, when you feel like you aren’t a good employee or you aren’t working hard enough to advance your career, try reframing those thoughts by thinking about the benefits of your job or position and the contributions you make to the company.
This will help you feel more confident about your accomplishments and less likely to let imposter syndrome hold you back.
- Reframe your thoughts
It can be tough to admit to yourself that you have feelings of imposter syndrome, but if you want to get over it, there are steps you can take.
One of the most important things you can do to combat imposter syndrome is to reframe your thoughts. You can do this by separating your feelings from reality, and by reminding yourself that you are doing what you’re good at.
When you reframe your thoughts, you’ll be able to overcome the feeling of being an imposter. Using this strategy will help you to stop procrastinating and over-preparing because of fear that your work isn’t good enough.
Then, you’ll be able to focus on what you do well and celebrate that. If you’re prone to circling your thoughts, or having your fears come back to haunt you, it may be helpful to talk to someone about them.
- Talk to someone
If you find yourself struggling with imposter syndrome, it may help to speak to someone. This can be a friend, coworker, or a mental health professional.
The first thing to do is to identify the feelings you are having and why they feel so real. It could be that you are feeling like a fraud because you haven’t yet fully mastered your job or role.
You also might be feeling like you aren’t good enough because you’ve made a mistake recently or because coworkers don’t seem to be taking the time to praise your work as often as you’d like.
The best way to reframe these feelings is to look at the facts. That means that you should re-read any projects or essays you’ve written and check to see if they support your imposter feelings.
- Let go of your inner perfectionist
While perfectionism can be helpful in certain contexts, it can also spiral out of control and become a roadblock for productivity. It’s important to note that letting go of perfectionistic tendencies is a gradual process, rather than a quick fix.
For many people, perfectionism comes from a need to feel worthy. They may have experienced insecure early attachments or believe that they aren’t good enough unless they reach high goals.
Perfectionists are also often control freaks, believing that if they want something done right, they must do it themselves.
Instead of trying to be a perfect person, find ways to celebrate your strengths and the things you do well in life. Make it a habit to notice and recognize those things you did well each day, even if they’re small.
These small wins can help you to let go of your inner perfectionist. This will allow you to reframe your thoughts, build more self-confidence, and move forward with greater clarity in your career.