Emotional Intelligence, Intellectual Property
Imposter syndrome is more common than you might think. Many people struggle with it, and like most people, I too have had periods where I struggled with confidence. Through those struggles, I have learned that if you don’t deal with it, you run the risk of living a life that is much smaller than it should be. We need your skills and talents to change the world more than ever! I hope that what I share with you today, will help you put a stop to imposter syndrome, so you can play big: be #1 in your field, live your legacy, and create maximum impact in the world!
The Oxford Dictionary describes imposter syndrome as the “persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s efforts or skills.”
We have all doubted ourselves or our abilities at certain times. That is very normal. But when those doubts become pervasive and stop us from moving toward the things we want, imposter syndrome is likely at play. We must learn the symptoms of imposter syndrome and take the necessary steps to keep it in check.
What are the symptoms of imposter syndrome?
There are many different symptoms of imposter syndrome. Some of them include:
Imposter syndrome can even have physical symptoms like:
Who does imposter syndrome affect?
Tom Hanks, Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, Wolfgang Puck, and so many more people who excel in their professions, have admitted they have struggled with imposter syndrome.
It is very common in high achievers, which makes sense when you consider that the people who are challenging themselves to play big, are living life outside their comfort zones. That alone can make us feel unsure of ourselves because doing new things means we can’t predict the outcome.
Additionally, high achievers are very good at what they do, and they have natural gifts and talents they have instinctively used on their rise to the top. Because these things come so easily, they can discount their abilities, thinking that everyone can do what they do, which is simply not true. That mistaken belief can lead to imposter syndrome.
What causes imposter syndrome?
While there isn’t one single cause or trigger for imposter syndrome, our internal beliefs play a big part in it. Our belief system is highly informed by the experiences we had from birth to the age of seven. The beliefs of our parents or guardians, as well as other factors like culture and the environment we grew up in, impact the way we see the world, what we believe about it, and what we think about ourselves and our accomplishments.
Our experiences as adults play a part too, but if we haven’t actively explored our belief system, we often have no idea what is driving our thoughts, decisions, and actions.
Then, when we have experiences that make us doubt who we are, question our abilities, and/or we fail at things that are important to us, it can impact our mindset. For some, these “failures” fuel their determination, for others it can lead to self-doubt and imposter syndrome, depending on each person’s beliefs about themselves.
To overcome imposter syndrome, take the following steps:
#1 Recognize when you are experiencing it. Become familiar with the symptoms and improve your emotional intelligence, so you can pinpoint the emotion you are feeling when it’s happening. The more you can learn about the things that trigger your negative thought patterns, the easier it will be to stop them before they gain momentum and take control.
#2 Ask yourself if the thought(s) running through your head are true. Very often we allow our thoughts to run wild, without questioning their validity. If you can remember a time when you accomplished the thing or skills you are doubting, or something close to it, then the thoughts are false. That by itself can help to stop the feeling of imposter syndrome.
#3 Explore the negative thought(s) further. Our brains are always trying to keep us safe. Acknowledge that and thank your brain for the negative or self-limiting thought. Then ask what the thought is trying to protect you from. Very likely, there is an experience in your past, or perhaps that of someone you know that had a negative consequence because of the change they made or something new they tried, and your brain is trying to protect you from a similar outcome.
#4 Build your failure mitigation strategy. When you know what your brain is trying to protect you from, you can then use that information to build a strategy to avoid the issues that could lead to that negative outcome. For example, if the thought is that you don’t know how to avoid the pitfalls of starting a new business, you can list all of the things you can think of that you don’t know, and then you can find out the information you need to become successful. This way, you are working with those negative thoughts in a positive way that will lead to the result you want.
#5 Celebrate your wins! What is celebrated gets repeated. That means every time you celebrate each win, big or small, you will generate more wins! With every success you experience and every celebration of that success, your feelings of imposter syndrome will decrease.
#6 Keep a success journal. On those days when you can’t think of anything to dispute the thoughts of imposter syndrome, pull out your success journal and start reading. As you acknowledge your accomplishments, you can also recognize the fact that you are a high achiever who legitimately has the skill and determination to figure out a way through any challenge you face. There’s no imposter in that!
Each time you go through these steps, you will overcome fear and build your resilience to the thoughts that lead to imposter syndrome. With consistency, you will develop the ability to put a stop to it, while you create the success you desire and deserve!
One of the greatest books written to help people overcome fear and remove the self-limiting beliefs that can lead to imposter syndrome is Outwitting the Devil. Hidden away for over 70 years, Napoleon Hill’s sequel to Think and Grow Rich will help you identify the source of the fear and overcome it, by addressing the programmed beliefs that hold you back. I had the honor of working with the Napoleon Hill Foundation to bring Outwitting the Devil to today’s audiences and believe it will also help you learn how to replace those limiting beliefs with focused thoughts on your definite purpose, so you can live your legacy and create maximum impact in your life!
Bestselling author Napoleon Hill reveals the seven principles of good that allow us to triumph over obstacles…and find success.
Using his legendary ability to get to the root of human potential, Napoleon Hill digs deep to reveal how fear, procrastination, anger, and jealousy prevent us from realizing our personal goals. This long-suppressed parable, once considered too controversial to publish, was written by Hill in 1938 following the publication of his classic bestseller, Think and Grow Rich. Annotated and edited for a contemporary audience by Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and Three Feet from Gold co-author Sharon Lechter, this book is profound, powerful, resonant, and rich with insight.
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