What is Imposter Syndrome?
Ever felt underqualified for something you were selected to do?
You even considered accepting the recognition, award, or job position as sheer luck because you are undeserving.
You feel like a phoney and believe that sooner or later, people will catch on. The paralysing fear makes that accomplishment all the more intimidating.
Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon experienced by high achievers who fail to internalise or accept their success.
All the toil, dedication, and devotion toward the accomplishment are thrown out the window.
The person strongly feels that they just got lucky, and one day someone will uncover their fraudulent ways.
Mood disorders also build up from the pressure and expectations of the new status quo. The phenomenon is accompanied by anxiety and depression.
The anxious state results from intense worry that ineptitude will show, while depression kicks in when anxiety persists.
How do You Develop Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is a product of growing up in high-achieving homes.
Children raised from homes where their accomplishments were extravagantly lauded or scrutinised end up disbelieving their actual accolades.
Whatever they end up becoming does not fit with their expectations.
The caregiver’s expectation of the child is low enough that failure does not faze them.
For instance, a child may come in first in class only for the parents to compare their grades with the most outstanding statistic on record. Ultimately, the child’s performance becomes a failure because it is weighed against an unrealistic standard.
The same is true for an underachiever being overly congratulated – at least for trying. In both cases, the child grows up second-guessing their skills, intelligence, and expertise and develops a pressure to achieve.
Managing Imposter Feelings
● Know Your worth – write down your qualifications, abilities, talents, and gifts. Familiarise yourself with your strengths to counter self-doubt.
● Talk to a mentor, counsellor, or life coach – they guide both your irrational and logical thought processes and assist you in finding the right direction.
● Learn to accept imperfections – the pressure in imposter syndrome arises from the desire to be perfect. Life is full of defects – and that is okay.