How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Ever struggled to feel like you have done anything worth celebrating? What about feeling like a failure - or like you’re one step away from someone realizing you don’t know your stuff?
That’s imposter syndrome creeping in. And here’s something I want you to know: there’s nothing wrong with you! In fact, imposter syndrome just means you’re trying to grow into a new version of yourself but you’re not quite there yet. So kudos for growing and stretching!
Many women suffer from the pressure they put on themselves, and that creates self-doubt, which can spiral into something pretty ugly and debilitating. It’s time to end the cycle.
Psychology Today defines imposter syndrome as “a psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments.” It’s not a fun feeling to have creeping up on you daily.
We all face these daunting questions in our everyday lives. If you’re anything like me, you may even spend hours wondering, “Am I enough and do I actually belong here?”
If you have had these wandering thoughts, please know that you are enough exactly as you are.
Social media made this comparison game so prevalent. It’s easy to feel like we’re frauds. And it’s even easier to feel like we aren’t doing enough or being enough. The only way to true, fulfilling success is by taming what I like to call our toxic dragons — and that includes imposter syndrome.
What can we do about imposter syndrome?
It’s easy to say “just ignore it,” but the reality is that these thoughts are internalized and difficult to separate ourselves from. In many ways, it’s part of the journey of being a dreamer and reaching for new goals. So it’s important that we acknowledge two important things:
Embrace the feelings of fear - especially as you grow and try new things.
Admit what you do and don’t know. This seemingly tiny admission will go a long way in freeing you from these toxic dragons.
As you grow, it will be normal to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. But that doesn’t mean that you’re incapable. It means that you’re changing and evolving.
So if we take those 2 tips above and put them into practice, it could look like this:
Imposter syndrome thoughts: “Who am I to charge $5,000 for my services? So-and-so has so much more experience than I do. They are better at this than I am so I can’t charge that much.”
I’m feeling afraid of rejection. But I also know rejection is inevitable. Not everyone will say yes to my offer, but that does’t mean it’s priced too high.
I do know that I can deliver results with this $5,000 offer. I don’t know how to handle rejection and not let it cripple me, so there is an opportunity for me to develop that skillset and improve my mindset.
Allowing yourself the freedom to grow and recognizing you aren’t there yet is different from being a fraud. Of course you’re not there yet! There will always be a new goal we want to hit, a new milestone we want to reach!
So if we think of it that way, imposter syndrome is likely not going to go entirely away. But we can learn how to tame it a bit so that it doesn’t derail our efforts.
Remember, we all have to start somewhere - so when you’re feeling like an imposter, take a moment to remember you’re not a fraud, you’re just growing. And that’s a beautiful thing!
If you can shift your mindset from what you don’t know or what you’re fearful of into something more helpful and truthful, imposter syndrome won’t be able to hold you back.
Instead, you’ll bloom into the CEO you were always meant to be.
When you need an extra boost of confidence, try some of our favorite quotes….
Let these powerful words remind you that you are enough.
“Acknowledge your fear, understand it, and then get comfortable existing in a space with it.” — Allie Dattilio
“I feel like an imposter often. That’s because my best work involves doing things I’ve never done before. — Seth Godin
“It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not.” — Denis Waitley
“I still have a little imposter syndrome... It does’t go away, that feeling that you shouldn’t take me seriously. What do I know? I share that with you because we all have doubts in our abilities, about our power and what that power is.” — Michelle Obama
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself aloud.” — Coco Chanel
“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.” — Mark Twain
“Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Don’t trade your authenticity for approval.” — Anonymous
“You attract the right things when you have a sense of who you are.” — Amy Poehler
“We are constantly invited to be who we are.” — Henry David Thoreau
"Trust yourself — you know more than you think you do." — Benjamin Spock
“Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Washington Thurman
“Lighten up on yourself. No one is perfect. Gently accept your humanness.” – Deborah Day
“Be humble - not knowing something doesn’t make you a fraud, it makes you a student.” – Marie Forleo
“The only difference between you and the people who are doing what you want to be doing is that they started doing it one day. That’s all.” — Sophia A
“We have to dare to be ourselves.” — May Sarton
“Self confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.” — Samuel Johnson
“It is confidence in our bodies, minds, and spirts that allows us to keep looking for new adventures.” – Oprah Winfrey
“When nothing is sure, everything is possible.” – Margaret Drabble
“People talk about confidence without ever bringing up hard work. That’s a mistake. I don’t understand how you could have self-confidence if you don’t do the work.” — Mindy Kaling
“You are you. Now, isn’t that pleasant?” – Dr. Seuss
Do you need help overcoming imposter syndrome?
We tame these toxic dragon and many more inside the Upleveler Society - a group designed to help powerful female CEOs step into the life and business they were always meant to have. We’re here to cheer you on every step of the way - especially when you struggle to see your own worth.
