All of us have disguises or masks that unconsciously use to hide our insecurities, whether they are corporal, social, or psychological. But this defense mechanism can also create distress as we try to be authentic and face the world as we are, and here is when you may perceive yourself as a fraud, an impostor.
To adverse these thoughts, you often end up toiling and balancing yourself to constantly achieve complex standards. This burden can ultimately bruise your emotional comfort and your conduct. But you don’t have to punish yourself over this, you are not fraudulent, you simply have “impostor syndrome.”
When impostor syndrome grows, a barrage of self-doubt and self-disruption can devastate our daily convictions. This syndrome makes you feel like each accomplishment is either spam, a stroke of luck, or an accident, and it results in relentless anxiety of being exposed, of being revealed as a fraud. The Journal of Behavioral Science conducted research and concluded that 70% of people undergo this perceptive falsification.
What Is The Impostor Syndrome?
Originally designated by psychologists Suzanne Imes, and Pauline Rose Clance, in the 1970s, impostor syndrome (IS) discusses a cognitive behavior of suspecting that you are not as capable and proficient as others appraise you to be. The condition is predominant among high-performing individuals, who, despite their clear triumph, think they are not deserving of the merit they have procured.
Even though others commend your capacities, you disregard your accomplishments as a matter of time and fortuity. You cannot allow yourself to accept that you acquired success on your qualities, and this leads you to fear that others will ultimately notice this as well. Your achievements don’t encourage you and over time, this can stimulate a sequence of worry, misery, and guilt. Denis Waitley says, “It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not.” However, impostor syndrome is not a sanctioned diagnosis enumerated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, psychologists and others concede that it is a very factual and explicit form of cognitive self-doubt.
5 Signs That You’re Suffering From It
Fear of being exposed and judged scares all of us. If you feel that you are also suffering from the imposter syndrome, you can always self-evaluate yourself and these five signs will help you do that:
- You are disposed to overburden yourself. Think that if you overwork enough and achieve satisfactory outcomes, it will appear as if your accomplishments are authentic.
- You are a perfectionist. You dreadfully want everything to be perfect, and when it is not, you only blame yourself for failing and think of yourself as incompetent.
- It is tough for you to accept admiration. You trust that your achievements are fluke or fake, therefore, it is uncomfortable for you when people admire you.
- You reside on what you have not done, instead of rejoicing in what you have accomplished.
- You often tone down your skills and proficiencies, even in domains where you are unaffectedly more capable than others.
Despite its frequency, signs that you are suffering from imposter syndrome are not always apparent.
You Can Overcome It
Imposter syndrome can cause you stress and anxiety and hinder your ability to celebrate life but don’t be scared you are not alone in this. Don’t give up because you can certainly overcome it, it’s just a matter of recognizing and working on your self-confidence. There are lots of noteworthy routines that can help you tackle imposter syndrome. You can always talk to a mental health professional and addressing the issue itself is the first step to recovery and healing. Own your accomplishments rather than feeling guilty and tell yourself more often that your hard work and skills have gotten you this far. Envision plainly how you will steer the circumstances positively before it occurs. It is okay to feel worthy without being entitled, and overpowering impostor syndrome is just about striking an upright balance between humility and self-worth. As Malcolm X has said, “We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.”