Amelia Elkins, LCSW, CAS
“Nothing Can Dim the Light that Shines from Within”
-Maya Angelou
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is defined as feeling like a fraud, phony, and believing that you’re actually not as competent as others believe you to be. Do you find that you struggle to see your accomplishments? Do you work extra hard, so others don’t “suspect” anything about your work? Do you ever credit to your success to outside factors, rather than your own abilities? If any of these apply to you, then you might be experiencing imposter syndrome. This is obviously a challenging cycle to be in and can result in burnout, depression, and an inability to ever feel accomplished or proud of oneself. Here are some things that you can try and begin breaking this cycle and reaching your full potential today.
Recognize how your childhood played a role and break the cycle.
- When you were growing up, was there a lot of pressure to perform, be the best, or constantly do better? This could be impacting you today.
- Identifying how these messages played a positive or negative role on your view of yourself is important.
- What would it mean to break these cycles today?
- Determine what you want your life to look like, rather than what you have been told it should look like, and work toward this instead.
Get feedback from Coworkers or Colleagues.
- One of the biggest challenges of imposter syndrome is believing you’re worthy.
- Asking for positive feedback from colleagues, supervisors, and even friends is a great way to gather proof that the negative thoughts in your head are simply thoughts.
- Keeping a log or folder full of these truths can be super helpful in dark moments. Simply pull out the log and remind yourself how others see you.
Work toward Self-Acceptance and Compassion.
- Perfectionism and imposter syndrome go hand in hand so finding ways to challenge negative trains of thought is crucial.
- If the belief is “I don’t deserve to be giving this presentation,” rewire this belief with three new thoughts.
- Here are some examples: “I was asked to do the presentation, so someone believes my intellect.” Or “I can trust that I’m doing the best I can, and I will prepare so I’ll feel confident in myself.”
Looking for more support? Reach out today to get individualized support for Imposter Syndrome.