Imposter Syndrome is having doubts about your abilities and thinking that you don’t deserve to achieve success. People who deal with imposter syndrome are usually high achievers who feel like frauds once they reach a milestone in their life. Others may rave about their achievements, but for someone who deals with imposter syndrome, they feel like they have not done enough. Imposter syndrome can affect your work life, personal relationships, physical and mental health.
Although imposter syndrome can lead to anxiety and depression, experts do not recognize it as an official disorder. The causes of imposter syndrome are unknown, but it is possible that someone’s upbringing, personality, and genetics can play a role in their development.
Overcoming imposter syndrome is difficult for many people, but holistic habits can help put your mind at ease when you have moments of fear and doubts about yourself.’
Disconnect Your Feelings from Reality
Often our minds can play tricks on us, and we end up sabotaging ourselves. Since imposter syndrome can make some people undermine their achievements, they sabotage their success in their workplace, personal achievements, and any other breakthroughs in their lives.
Some people with imposter syndrome self-sabotage themselves because they view their success as a threat. Our minds and society program us to keep going for higher goals. After achieving a planned endeavor, you get a dopamine rush that tells you to repeat that goal and achieve more.
A dopamine rush can make you feel accomplished after you finish a big project or get a promotion. That is not the case for someone with imposter syndrome that tends to self-sabotage. They cannot identify the feel-good sensation of reaching an objective and the satisfaction of steering clear of a threat. Because of that, they see their achievement as a threat. As a result, they listen to the overly critical voice in their head that leads them to a path of self-destruction.
The first step to overcoming imposter syndrome is to recognize your thinking patterns. Once you have an understanding of why you do the things that you do, you can then look into your decision-making to change them.
Look At Things From a New Perspective
When you look at things from a different perspective, it forces you to think in a way that may be unfamiliar to you. A newfound perspective is a great way to reflect on your life and start to think positively about your current and future endeavors. Instead of looking at problems and feeling inferior, switching your perspective can put you in a mood of gratitude.
Visualize And Affirm Your Success
Replace those fearful images and scenarios with thoughts of your plans going smoothly. Whenever a pessimistic vision comes to mind, think of one positive image. It’s hard not to have one terrible idea throughout the day. Attempting to control all of your thoughts is like preventing waves from hitting a shore. Over time, by replacing an opposing view with a positive outlook, you will develop the habit of positive thinking.
After you visualize your success, you can affirm that you deserve success by writing out your goals as if you have already achieved them. Jotting down things you are grateful for can help you have a mindset that makes you feel worthy of your efforts and achievements. Once you are thankful for what you have, it puts you in a better position to go after new future endeavors.
Create Healthy Habits for Responding to Failure
Memories of your failures stir up feelings of inadequacy and doubt. Those feelings lead you to have an unhealthy response to losses that cause you to resent yourself or others. There are lessons that you can learn from failures that can bring success in the future. When you fail at something, don’t take it personally. Accept the responsibility that you play in your loss, but don’t beat yourself up for it.
One of the patterns that people with imposter syndrome have is rehashing out their failures repeatedly. Be nice to yourself. Many successful people have made mistakes and were able to turn their losses into valuable teaching moments that made them better individuals.
Celebrate Your Accomplishments
High angle view at multi-ethnic group of business people smiling cheerfully while chatting during coffee break in office, copy space
What are some things that you have always wanted to do? Is it traveling or treating yourself to your favorite brand of shoes? Whatever it is, you need to celebrate your accomplishments. Treating yourself after a win helps you maintain your emotional being. You can recognize all your achievements from big to small. Some people may overlook small goals because they don’t think it’s necessary, but in actuality, you wouldn’t have big successes without the small achievements. Every step of the way, give yourself a boost of motivation.
Do It And Your Brain Will Follow
Fear is one of the common traits of imposter syndrome. People suffering from imposter syndrome are afraid that people will find out that they are not deserving of their accomplishments. You can’t wait until you feel worthy of your victory. Some days you are going to have to keep going despite your feelings. After you start to see the outcome of your behavior, you will feel more confident in yourself, and your self-esteem will build from it.
