Imposter Syndrome — 5 Powerful Facts to Transform Your Life

By Ashley Fernandes

Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you are not worthy to be where you are in life, and that someone, at any moment, is going to come out and discover that you don’t belong. Sound familiar?

Let’s face it. Nearly every one of us has probably gone through something that made us question our ability to match up to others’ greatness. Imposter syndrome is a real and prevalent issue in our society, and yet it is one that lies solely within our minds. If we can learn how to change our mindsets, we may be able to effectively manage imposter syndrome and all the self-limiting beliefs that come along with it.

However, to be able to do that, we need to understand exactly what imposter syndrome is, and how normal it is to experience it. When we realize that even our greatest role models have experienced self-doubt, we can unlock our deepest potential. With that said, let’s look at five fascinating facts about imposter syndrome to bring you closer to success and freedom!

Even Celebrities Battle Imposter Syndrome

Did you know that many of your favourite stars have experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their lives? That’s right — even people who seem like they have the world on their side feel unworthy at times.

Famous actor, Will Smith, has shared his experiences with imposter syndrome in his quote,

“I still doubt myself every single day. What people believe is my self-confidence is actually my reaction to fear.”

Maya Angelou, world-renowned civil rights activist, author and poet, once said,

“I have written eleven books, but each time I think ‘uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’”

Even Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, has confessed to experiencing imposter syndrome throughout her career. In an interview for The Star, Obama explains how she would often sit in rooms filled with intellectual people, and she would find herself feeling that she didn’t belong there. But later, she would realize that she had worked just as hard as anyone else to be there. Imagine if she had let her imposter syndrome bring her down!

Chances Are, It’s All in Your Head

Anyone with imposter syndrome knows that sinking feeling after a job interview or other big event they worked hard for. In other words, it’s the feeling that you didn’t measure up, and surely others did far better than you! You may even have felt this after you succeeded or got the job. “They must have made a mistake,” you think. “I don’t belong with these smart people who know what they’re doing. I certainly don’t know what I’m doing!”

I’ve experienced this several times in my life. There have been instances in work or school settings where I was trying to figure out what to do. Still, I had plenty of people come up to me for help because somehow, they thought I had it all together when I really didn’t!

Truthfully, there is not a person on this earth that fully knows “what they’re doing.” We are all trying to make ourselves fit into a world where it is unusual to stand out, and in an environment where everyone seems way better off than you, it’s important to recognize that this feeling is simply untrue. You deserve to be here just as much as everyone else.

Managing Imposter Syndrome May be Easier Than You Think

In her TEDTalk, Valerie Young claims that there is a simple solution to Imposter Syndrome. That solution, whether you believe it or not, is the far-from-complex art of pretending. If you “pretend” to be a person who effortlessly achieves their goals and dreams, you will slowly convince your mind that this is the truth.

Similarly, mind and body expert, Deepak Chopra, believes that 5 to 10 minutes of visualization each day for six weeks can rewire one’s brain for success. Reciting positive affirmations and visualizing oneself as confident and successful may therefore help to relieve the effects of imposter syndrome.

Valerie Young also adds more to this solution by stating in her article, “Don’t wait until you feel confident to start putting yourself out there. Courage comes from taking risks. Change your behavior first and allow your confidence to build.”

Imposter Syndrome May Mean You Are Intelligent

It is no coincidence that self-doubt runs among some of the greatest professionals and intellectuals in our world. Sometimes, it is difficult for even the most influential people to see themselves as worthy of praise as much as others do, because to them, they are simply human.

However, this may have been the trick that made them successful in the first place!

According to Exploring Your Mind, intelligent people tend to doubt their abilities far more than incompetent people. One reason for this may be that self-doubt often forces you to constantly learn and grow. For instance, one could find themselves leveling-up on the success scale because…

they never let themselves think that they had no more need for improvement.

This phenomenon even goes back centuries ago when one of the greatest writers and playwrights of all time, William Shakespeare, wrote, “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

Imposter syndrome could therefore very likely be a sign of wisdom!

Imposter Syndrome May Never Fully Go Away

Life is a constant whirlpool of both positive and negative emotions. Even after we think we have surpassed all of our current obstacles, we are still susceptible to experiencing hurt, fear, and pain. This is what it means to be human, and because of this, imposter syndrome may never fully go away.

A person could have all the well-deserved success in the world and still feel inadequate. While experiencing this self-doubt could feel painful in the moment, it is important to recognize the benefits of imposter syndrome. Learning how to manage imposter syndrome takes time and practice, but it does not need to be eradicated once and for all.

A healthy balance of self-doubt and self-confidence is normal. Since we are the ones who spend every single moment with ourselves, we are far more likely to view our flaws and weaknesses under a microscope. It is therefore us who have the power to turn those weaknesses into strengths, despite what our thoughts want us to believe. We have the ability to turn our imposter syndrome into something that brings us prosperity and abundance!

Conclusion

If we’re not careful, imposter syndrome can let our potential for success go to waste. Acknowledging and understanding imposter syndrome may help us to realize the effects that it has on our abilities. Above all, while imposter syndrome may not always be conquered completely, it can certainly be managed and even used to benefit our everyday lives.