Defeat your self-doubt: How to overcome Imposter Syndrome
We all have at times doubted our capabilities. Sometimes the self-doubt can be so enormous that you may think you don’t really deserve your success. Despite external validation, you strongly believe that your accomplishments are due to good luck or the result of people overestimating your capabilities. When your self-doubt reaches that level, you may experience what the experts call Imposter Syndrome.
Those experiencing Imposter Syndrome feel like they don’t really belong to their perceived league.
As the name suggests, they feel like an imposter, a fraud. The result is feelings of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and frustration.
What causes Imposter Syndrome
The causes of Imposter Syndrome vary from person to person. The most common ones include
- High-achieving families
- Overprotective parents
- Internalized gender stereotypes
- Cultural norms
- Anxiety
- Particular personality traits like perfectionism
The cause could be any. The suffering is real and universal.
It could exist in the nerd next desk to highly accomplished professionals in every field.
You are certainly not alone.
7 Imposter Syndrome exercises to help you cope
1. Imposter Syndrome Test: Look out for these signs
Many who experience Imposter Syndrome do not seek help since they see their problems as unworthy of attention. Identifying and acknowledging the symptoms is the first step to overcoming the problem. Some signs of Imposter Syndrome include:
- Low self-esteem
- Berating your accomplishments
- Quick to discount praise
- Feelings of unworthiness
- Guilt about own success
- Extreme self-doubt & anxiety
- Fear of failure, of being “caught” at any moment
