How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome

Impostor Syndrome

[It] can be defined as a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in face of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced internally as chronic self-doubt, and feelings of intellectual fraudulence (source).

While interacting with successful people and people that you believe have it all or have it all figured out, you’ll usually find that they are not always as sure of themselves as you are. You look and you’re like but “WOW…you’ve accomplished so much” and they still aren’t quite sure how. This is impostor syndrome and it can manifest itself in several forms including procrastination. You, yes you, may even have it.

There are a lot of times when we have self-doubt and think we’re one mistake from everything crumbling. This can be at work, at school, in our business, or at home. But you have to realize that you indeed are not a fraud and you are also not perfect.

Here are 3 ways that you can overcome impostor syndrome.

1. Let go of PERFECT Trying to be perfect or SEEM perfect is the quickest way to succumb to impostor syndrome because you’ve set up an expectation that you will never live up to and will then possibly use that failure to feed your impostor syndrome. You need to set realistic and incremental goals for yourself. This is not saying not to reach for the stars but it’s saying don’t plan to reach the stars before you build your spaceship and in the next hour. For a free goal setting guide, click here!

2. Surround yourself with like-minded people While your family and friends surely love you, they may not quite “get” what you’re trying to do. When they don’t “get” something or see you struggling with something they may begin to express concern or doubt and that concern or doubt will only feed your impostor syndrome. Having people around you who are doing similar things or who know what you are going through will help you get the encouragement and advice you need without the doubt.

3. Work your butt off There are tons of geniuses in the world but they won’t do the work. As long as you do the work, you’ll be learning and you’ll be getting better at what you’re doing. If you have an idea for something, just do it. You can’t wait until it’s “perfect” (see #1). You have to just go and then perfect as you go or you won’t really know what needs fine-tuning.

“There are tons of geniuses in the world but they won’t do the work. ”

If you use these tips to get over impostor syndrome, before you know it, it will become easier to believe that you truly do belong where you are and you deserve all the successes that have come to you. You have to believe in your hard work, your dream, and your dedication. Soon you’ll be a rock star to yourself and no one will be able to shake that because you have already overcome doubting yourself.

Have you dealt with Impostor Syndrome? How did you get over it?