Have you ever worked so hard to accomplish something but somehow feel like a fraud after it’s all said and done? You might be experiencing imposter syndrome.
It’s a vicious cycle. You doubt that you accomplished anything and convince yourself that you don’t deserve any recognition or reward. Even after working so hard, you still feel like a phony.
What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it? – Elizabeth Cox
What is imposter syndrome, and how does it work?
Imposter syndrome is the experience of not being able to shake the feeling that you haven’t actually earned the success you have. It’s all about perspective, not about the amount of work (or lack thereof) that you’ve actually completed.
Skilled and accomplished people tend to see others similar to them. If you are a skilled person, you are probably convinced that everyone around you has the same potential you have. This eventually leads you into a spiral of not feeling like you deserved the recognition you received.
How can you tell if you experience imposter syndrome?
If you experience imposter syndrome, you are likely the type of person to overwork yourself. This ultimately comes from the crushing weight of inadequacy that you feel. You believe that if you work as hard as possible, you may finally feel proud of yourself.
You are constantly trying to reach a threshold of feeling good enough. Once you feel good enough, then you can finally let yourself rest.
But what if your efforts never feel good enough?
How can you fix it?
If you want to conquer imposter syndrome, the best thing to do is to talk about it. Everyone deals with self-doubt, so hearing that you are not alone can take a ton of pressure off of you. Talking about it also helps other people not feel alone in their internal battle with self-doubt.
Go easy on yourself. You’re doing better than you think!
If you are interested in more mental health information then consider our article How to Journal for Mental Wellness
