First things first, I’m not a doctor of any sort.
I don’t study medicine nor am I a therapist. That said, I have personally dealt with imposter syndrome. And if I can help even one person understand their value, then my mission will have been accomplished.
So let’s take a look at how we can set out on the path to overcoming imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is basically you doubting your skills or value, and feeling like a fraud. It can affect anyone, especially those who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments.
The wiki page for this psychological occurrence goes into greater detail than I need to but it could be worth a look if you want more specifics of the definition.
Better yet, this article lays it out in a more digestible way if you’re not into nerding out on Wiki. I have no desire to rank this post for any reason, and both these references contain plenty of info that I don’t need to rehash.
How to beat it
So, you have the what and why. The best thing I can offer (by way of original content) is sharing how to overcome it. Or at least how I’ve approached it. Your situation is uniquely yours but with some luck, perhaps you’ll see some overlap and grab a couple tips to take with you.
Without further ado, let’s get into a little listicle of overcoming imposter syndrome:
- People are just people. No one is born with more knowledge in their noggin than anyone else. Whatever they know is in direct relation to their life’s path.
- Your perspective is unique. Even if you’ve spent the last 5 years with your head down in books that others wrote, or at 10 conferences that others spoke at, or admiring heroes that seem invincible – you still processed that information in your own way.
- There’s room at the table. Unless you’re applying to be, say, a NASA pilot, there’s still room in the industry you want to stake a claim in. Just because you follow a dozen “influencers” in your space that seem to have it cornered, doesn’t mean that you can’t get a seat.
Honestly, these are the biggest keys that come to mind at present. Following my desire to keep it real, and without an ounce of BS, that’s what I’ve got for ya.
I truly enjoy advocating for those that are short on confidence. If you ever want to chat about this please reach out.