H
WHAT IS IMPOSTOR SYNDROME:
“It’s the feeling that everyone else knows exactly what they’re doing, but you feel lost,” explains noted psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD. “You have this fear that follows you. It’s about the people around you will sooner or later figure out that you don’t know what you’re talking about or posses the skill sets you claim and expose you as a fraud.”
What could be the worst part about impostor syndrome? It can easily turn into a self-destructive cycle with seriously negative consequences. Anyone can experience it, but recognizing it and having the tools to get past it can
stop you from getting in your own way.
ave you ever felt like you’re not good enough to do
the job you’ve been hired to do — and that your
boss might figure it out at any moment? Or maybe you’ve felt like you’re only pretending to be an an adult who’s capable of buying a home or raising a human being, even though everyone else you know has it totally figured out.
Spoiler alert: A lot of people feel this way, too!
No matter how much evidence there is that we’re successfully navigating our lives, jobs and relationships, many of us hold false beliefs that we aren’t actually as capable or smart as others think we are. This is called impostor syndrome, or impostor phenomenon.
It isn’t a diagnosis or a medical problem, but a pattern of thinking that can lead to self-doubt, negative self-talk and missed opportunities.
IMPOSTOR SYNDROME:
What It Is and How To Overcome It
Tips for getting out of your own way and taking ownership of your success
FEATURE
By Alexa Maslowski | The Cleveland Clinic
IMPOSTOR SYNDROME HAS A
WHO’S WHO LIST
If you’ve ever felt like an impostor, undeserving of your fortune or full of doubt, you’re in good company. One study estimated that 7 in 10 adults encounter it at some point or another in time.
Awkwafina
Actor, Comedian
Sonia Sotomayor
Court Justice
John Steinbeck
Author
Maya Angelou
Poet, Activist
Lupita Nyong’o
Actor
Serena Williams
Champion
Tom Hanks
Author, Actor
Michelle Obama
Author, First Lady
THE SIX NOTORIOUS SIGNS OF IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
Awareness
HOW IT AFFECTS
YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
Regardless of the different types of impostors, every one of the symptoms associated with impostor syndrome can affect these aspects of a person’s life.
In work performance one may fear that their coworkers and supervisors expect more from them than they can manage. They may feel unable to deliver. This person might hold themselves back and avoid seeking higher achievements due to the fear of not succeeding and the fear of doing things the wrong way. All of this can affect work performance.
At times, a fear of failure or a coworker finding out they are fake stops them from pursuing a promotion or even taking on any additional responsibility.
OPRAH: KNOW THY WORTH
Impostor syndrome and its symptoms can manifest itself in many unexpected ways, including these traits:
On May 6, 2023, Oprah Winfrey returned to her alma mater, Tennessee State University, to deliver the commencement address to the class of 2023. Her uplifting speech marked the first time Oprah returned to TSU since 1987.
Crediting
luck or other serendipitous reasons for any success.
UNWORTHY
feelings of affection that are detrimental
to our self-worth.
OVERWORK
yourself to be the
only way to meet expectations.
MINIMIZING
your noteworthy accomplishments
of any kind.
FEAR
of being perceived
in public or in private
as a failure.
RESTRAINing
yourself and holding back from reaching any attainable goals.
I
“I come as one, I stand as 10,000” has been my mantra for power. The one nobody expected to be in the room, at the table, on the anchor desk. And at no time did I ever feel out of place, or not enough, or inadequate—or an impostor. Do not let the world make an impostor syndrome out of you. Why? Because I knew who I was.”
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