Do you feel like a fraud sometimes? Check and see if you are suffering from” impostor syndrome” ….

Have you ever felt like an impostor? Do you feel like people believe you are much better than you think you really are? Let me tell you that it is extremely common. You are not an alien, in fact, statistics say that around 75 percent of us suffer from impostor syndrome at least once in our lifetime …

These emotions are referred to as the «impostor syndrome.» But, it does not mean we are crazy. It also does not mean we are emotionally sick. It is just a healthy way to react to a stressful situation. This is especially true in a new work environment or when we are facing a new task.

The impostor syndrome involves feelings of self-doubt. Makes you feel that you are incompetent despite your education, skills, or abilities. When we struggle with these feelings, we believe we have been capable of “cheating”. We convince others that we are something we aren’t. To make it short, a big bluff.  

Struggling with the fear of being discovered as a fraud.

When you struggle with these thoughts you wonder if you even deserve all the compliments. It is as if you were feeling a conflict between your own self-perception and the way others perceive you. You just do not believe what is going on. You feel like a fraud. You fear that, at one point or another, the other person will discover your true self. When you make any tiny mistake, you blame yourself. You work hard to reinforce your belief that you lack intelligence and ability.

The stress,  direct effect of the fear of “being discovered” works as gasoline for the cycle of anxiety. This mindset of “feeling less” hurts you and makes you act less productively. In fact, it enables your ability to think properly. It makes you even more vulnerable to those mistakes

Psychologists consider that some specific personality traits can push someone into this impostor syndrome, these are, insecurities, perfectionistic tendencies, and underestimation among others

Overcoming the feeling of being an impostor

There is a need to learn how to cope with feelings of self-doubt. We should try to deal with the sense of being a fraud. If possible, we must resolve these feelings altogether. To resolve these emotions, we need to understand them. We must discover why we are experiencing self-doubts and fear of being discovered or exposed as fraud. When and what triggers them?

To overcome the feeling of being an impostor you need to work on your self-esteem. Recognize your abilities. Acknowledge your skill and accomplishments as a key. and use them as a reminder. Focus on yourself. Compare yourself only with yourself.

Finally, understand that you will feel insecure, and you make mistakes and face something new…Search for a mentor. Ask for help. Allow yourself to make mistakes at the beginning of a new experience. We all do!