By: Christina Nguyen
Ever looked at any of your accomplishments and thought, “wow, I couldn’t have achieved any of this. I’m not good enough for this. I’m scared others will find out I’m not the hotshot I pretend to be with all this.”
If similar thoughts have crossed your mind, you may have experienced impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome is when you literally feel like an impostor ‒ like you’re not really the person that you present to the rest of the world, that it’s just a facade. While this may seem daunting, up to 58% of workers in tech feel this way, waiting for the day that others figure out they’re not the person the world thinks they are.
While you can’t alleviate your feelings overnight, there are some steps we suggest you can take to reach a state where you can finally feel like all of your success is truly your own:
Share your successes with others.
Address the cause of your feelings.
It’s easy to see how feeling like an impostor is closely linked to feelings of low self-esteem. If you don’t think highly of yourself, it may be hard to believe you’re worthy of having your desires fulfilled, and part of that is attaining the professional success you want. Take an introspective journey and search for external or internal factors that could have seeded your self-doubt. For example, are the words of past bullies and unsupportive parents still ringing through?
If you’ve become used to others treating you as incapable and unworthy of success, it can be hard to shift your expectations, even when you finally hear praise. In other words, it can be hard to believe that your life has truly changed.
Be kind to yourself.
Once you’ve addressed the possible root causes of your self-doubt, practice being kinder to yourself overall, even outside of the realm of accomplishments. This seems much easier said than done, so don’t be afraid to consider professional help such as therapy to quiet the negative self-talk.
Showing yourself kindness in a different area outside of your professional life can be a stepping stone to overcoming impostor syndrome. For example, just congratulating and complimenting yourself for cooking a delicious meal or finishing a new puzzle can be a small step towards self-care and self-love.
Even though the above tips can help reassure you of your greatness, they may not adequately serve as remedies for every person going through impostor syndrome. If you believe that your impostor syndrome is likely to be rooted in mental health issues and/or deeper trauma, it may be worth it to consider professional help. You can seek out a therapist that specializes in clientele with your background for more personalized assistance.
How do you believe one should overcome impostor syndrome? What are your experiences with impostor syndrome? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
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