Imposter Syndrome- Time to get aware.

Imposter Syndrome – Time to get aware

Everyone in life experience this Imposter phenomenon especially when you are entering a new role or facing new changes in your routine. Sometimes countering success may trigger this Imposter syndrome. Studies showed that nearly 70% people will experience this imposter experience at least once in their life. So Imposter experience is quite natural and part of being human. It’s time to get aware about Imposter Syndrome.

What is Imposter syndrome?

“I am having luck, that’s why I won”
“I don’t belong here, don’t know, when they will identify me as a Fraud”
“She loves me because she didn’t realized that I’m bad”
“I am faking of being polite”
“Do I really make an impact?”
“It doesn’t something I did, I don’t deserve this success”

These are some ways imposter syndrome has been expressed in an individual. Imposter syndrome is a perceived fraudulence which involves the feeling of doubting on yourself and your personal competencies despite of your education, background, experiences and accomplishments.

There is a conflict between the self-perception and how others perceived you

Roots of Imposter Syndrome:

Roots of Imposter syndrome are not only the over identification of own flaws but also fails to understand that flaws are part of Human experience. Additionally, this imposter syndrome has its roots on any one of your childhood experiences like

You were pressured in school to do well
You were compared with your friends or siblings in terms of habits or performance
You were over protected i.e not being exposed to any vulnerable conditions
You were over controlled either by your parents or teachers
You had experienced destructive criticism for your mistakes

So, Social and cultural environment contribute higher feeling of Imposter syndrome.

Work from home causes Imposter syndrome – What to do?

Characteristics of Imposter Syndrome:

The Imposter syndrome term was first coined by Psychologist Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose in 1970.

Self-doubt in a moderate level actually helps you to assess your abilities and accomplishments but too much of self doubt can adversely disturbs your self-image.
Feeling of Low competency and not skilled but reality is totally opposite.
Attributing your success to external factors like luck
Fear of failure makes you to avoid responsibilities. Fear of failure happens as a result of doubting and under valuing your skills and talents.
Setting highly challenging goals and feeling disappointed when you are not able to meet your targeted goal.
Having the sense of being a fraud
Fear of being discovered your capabilities which you think that it is not worth enough
Your accomplishments don’t reassure you.
If you earn any recognition from outside, you call it as a sympathy or pity.
A high achiever not valuing your worth
A Perfectionist, seeking more perfection in everything

Is Imposter Syndrome a Mental illness?

It is not a mental illness but some people use this imposter phenomenon as a fuel for motivation with Anxiety. The fear of not being good enough can lead to many mental and emotional health disturbances like Anxiety, Shame, Guilt, Depression.

How to overcome from this Imposter Syndrome?

Aware about the signs and symptoms
Understand your Thoughts, Emotions and Behaviors
Self-awareness and Self-acceptance is crucial
Believe you are not alone
Embrace the feeling and separate it from the facts
Practice self-compassion– Be kind to your self
Stop comparing yourself with others
Say “Yes” to opportunities
Distinguish the differences between Humility and Fear. Humility is not down playing your efforts or not denying your talents. Humility is not fear.