Imposter syndrome is a mental health condition where people fail to internalize or realize their achievements. Instead of perceiving the ‘wins’ as a result of their hard work or expertise, they consider an external source, such as opportune timing or fate, responsible. They are scared of being exposed as fake, fraud, or imposter.
According to the experts providing imposter syndrome help, the symptoms are quite upsetting. Dysfunctional thoughts hamper one’s performance. They doubt their qualification and training, wonder if they can make sound decisions, and question whether or not they are capable of overcoming the obstructions.
Imposter syndrome is often considered a biological phenomenon. A specific brain network inside the memory system acts as a trigger. It is called working memory. Working memory is the human brain’s whiteboard. It specifies cues so people can track their tasks and objectives, especially in busy settings where a lot of things are going on.
Why Imposter Syndrome Affects Entrepreneurs the Most?
Entrepreneurs are more likely to suffer from imposter syndrome. Ambitious nature and perfectionist tendencies make up an entrepreneur. These two traits, unfortunately, also cause imposter syndrome. The complicated paradox can be described like this:
• The things that make one an entrepreneur are the same things that make one feel they should never be an entrepreneur.
• The more accolades one receives as an entrepreneur, the worse their imposter syndrome gets. This is because, for them, the accolades come from sheer luck.
How such feelings occur is not straightforward, so they need solutions that are not straightforward as well. Paradoxical problems need paradoxical fixes—welcome dialectical thinking.
Dialectical Thinking Strategies to Recover from Imposter Syndrome
Isolated Experience vs. Shared Experience
Most people experiencing imposter syndrome believe it is something happening only to them. But, imposter syndrome is a shared experience in the vast entrepreneurial community. One may have heard or read of this concept before.
When people view their failures from a shared experience outlook, they engage in social comparison, and that makes them feel better. They find out that their emotions are natural and even banal. When something feels natural, tension decreases automatically.
Mind Over Matter vs. Matter Over Mind
The professionals providing imposter syndrome help said thoughts could influence sentiments and bodies (expressed in facial expressions, gestures, postures, etc.) – mind over matter. The process works in the other way too. Bodies also influence sentiments and thoughts – matter over mind.
Imagine how compassionate touch is exhibited between two individuals – how holding a child’s hand or a pet’s paw reduces heart rate and blood pressure. Compassionate touch generates oxytocin that produces feelings of interconnectedness and safety – two states that get eliminated when imposter syndrome outbreaks.
Almost all entrepreneurs admitted finding imposter syndrome puzzling. It is the ironic outcome of becoming overambitious and perfectionist. Immersing in dialectic thinking allows one to overcome the condition soon. As evident from the above discussion, to better comprehend the experiences, one must see where their mind is at present and reveal its opposite.
Keep in mind the two strategies and try implementing them whenever one feels like an imposter.