You may have heard of impostor syndrome, or maybe you haven’t; but considering that a whopping 70% of people will suffer from the phenomenon at some point in their lives, you’ve probably come across it before.
For the unfamiliar, impostor syndrome is when you doubt your own accomplishments and successes, with a persistent internal fear of being exposed as a fraud – as though people are going to one day “find you out.” I suffer from it at work on a pretty much continuous basis – that feeling like one day people are going to wake up and realize that I’m useless.
It’s not just work-related activities that invoke imposter syndrome, however; I’ve heard of bloggers, photographers, chefs, and even travel guides (you know who you are) who also suffer from it. The thing is that it’s not a mental illness or disease; it’s just something we experience. But if you’ve been there, you know the feelings of anxiety and stress it can invoke. So what’s the fix for imposter syndrome?
The Antidote to Imposter Syndrome
When it comes to imposter syndrome, it’s not enough to be aware of it. I’m aware of it, and still I deal with it daily. No… the only antidote to imposter syndrome in my mind is progress. Progress leads to results, and results provide concrete proof that our efforts have amounted to something positive.
It’s one of the reasons why The New York Times once published an article that explained how people with impostor syndrome are some of the hardest-working, most productive people around. Well no kidding! When you feel like a fraud, it’s not because you are a fraud… it’s an irrational feeling, but it drives us to work harder and harder to make sure that people don’t, in fact, feel that way. Action and progress are how you keep those feelings at bay.
Wrapping it Up
If you’re experiencing impostor syndrome, I can assure you that you’re in good company. I can also assure you that there’s nothing wrong with you – just the opposite, in fact. You’re probably a hard-working, intelligent, humble person who is way harder on yourself than anyone else is ever likely to be. Just remember: don’t let that negative voice in your head stop you from moving forward. As Vincent Van Gogh once said, “If you hear a voice inside that says ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”
