by Trishala Jain, 2019–2020 Miss CEO Ambassador Student and student at Dublin High School
Have you ever felt like you didn’t deserve a specific award, honor, or title? Has it made you feel like a “fraud”? Did you ever feel like your accomplishments are attributed to luck instead of your own skills and talents?
If you have, you’re not alone. According to a study conducted by the International Journal of Behavioral Science, over 70% of people face some form of Imposter Syndrome at least once in their lives. Imposter Syndrome is characterized by the feeling that you don’t deserve any of the success you’ve received, including promotions, positions, titles, even awards, even if you worked hard for them. It can feel like the only reason you accomplished something was due to luck, and your skills and talents had nothing to do with success.
The truth is, Imposter Syndrome is completely normal and it’s inevitable to feel that way at times, especially when we feel pressured or stressed. In an environment where everyone is competing to become the next NBA player, entrepreneur, or President, Imposter Syndrome often becomes so prevalent that it cannot be ignored. When we accept Imposter Syndrome into our lives, we become shrouded with doubt regarding our skills and abilities — this can keep us from applying to competitive opportunities or trying new things because we feel like we don’t deserve them. Although many things can cause Imposter Syndrome, there are also many methods of fighting it.
- Acknowledge feelings of fraudulence and talk to others
Only after you identify a problem can you work towards solving it, so if you ever feel Imposter Syndrome creeping back into you, it’s okay to admit it. Sometimes, talking to a friend or someone you trust can help you realize that you’re not alone in your struggle because many of the people around us deal with the same feelings of uncertainty and doubt that we do. At any rate, expressing our thoughts with others can shed light on how universal Imposter Syndrome can be, which helps alleviate some of the stress we may feel from comparing ourselves to our peers and the people around us.
2. Revisit positive feedback
When we start to doubt ourselves and our abilities, it can be incredibly difficult to keep moving forward. At these times, think back to any time in your life when you received positive feedback. This could be for a school project, an initiative you started, even a compliment you received. Acknowledging that you are talented, and especially that other people can see that about you can help ease feelings of Imposter Syndrome and give you a quick reminder that you are skilled, even if you aren’t currently able to recognize it.
3. Visualize success
As Imposter Syndrome hits, think about your goals and what you want to accomplish within the next couple of months, year, or even a lifetime. Now think about the time when you first started working towards this goal, and compare that with where you are today. Without a doubt, you have made progress on something you’re passionate about, and you couldn’t have done that without the skills you possess that guided you along the way. By reframing your achievements and recognizing that everything you do works towards a larger goal, you can rid yourself of feelings of fraudulence and prove to yourself that you deserve the successes coming your way.
Without a doubt, Imposter Syndrome is an incredibly common occurrence and many of us face it when we’re talking to peers, receiving compliments, or hearing positive reviews about our accomplishments. I know from personal experience that Imposter Syndrome can be hard to shake off, especially when we feel stressed, but it’s important that we have an imposter moment, not an imposter life. So the next time you feel like you don’t deserve the opportunities or recognition you’ve been given, acknowledge these feelings. Then think back to all the hard work, effort, and dedication you’ve put into your goals and remember that you’ve worked hard to become the person you are today.
