How do you overcome the Impostor Syndrome?

Dear Friend,

If there is one feeling common to any one of us pushing ourselves to do more in the world – it’s the Impostor Syndrome – otherwise known as the voice of self-doubt.

You want to share your ideas more, but the Impostor Syndrome makes you question if you have anything useful to say.

You want to be more visible, but the Impostor Syndrome makes you wonder if you are being too ambitious, and who are you to outshine others anyway.

You want to reach out to someone important, but the Impostor Syndrome makes you question why someone that important would respond to your email.

The other day, I was feeling particularly anxious, because I had an important speaking engagement coming up. The thought that kept coming up over and over again is – “Have I taken on too much? Am I good enough to do justice to this opportunity?”

Feeling like an impostor almost always feels unpleasant. I know I wanted the feeling to just go away. But then I thought about it. When does any one of us feel like an impostor?

Do you feel like an Impostor when you are perfectly safe and comfortable, sitting on the couch watching Netflix?
No.

Do you feel like an impostor when you are doing something you already know how to do?
No.

You only ever experience the Impostor Syndrome when you are pushing yourself to do something beyond what you are currently capable of – so in that moment, yes, you are an Impostor – you are trying to do something bigger than you have done before.

But, why is that a bad thing?

Instead of letting the conditioned mind with its inherent negativity bias take over and let the Impostor Syndrome mean that you are not good enough, why not turn that thinking on its head and say,

“Yes, I feel like an Impostor right now. But that can only mean one thing – that I am pushing myself to go outside my comfort zone. That I am moving in the right direction. That I am about to attempt something which I will learn and grow from.”

Research shows high achievers are much more likely to experience the Impostor Syndrome, because they are constantly challenging themselves in new ways.

Feeling like an impostor? Congratulations, take it as a clear sign that you are a high achiever!

So, the next time you feel like an impostor, instead of letting that be a moment of weakness, why not pop the proverbial champagne bottle and instead ask – What about this feeling can I celebrate?