Ever feel like you don’t deserve everything you have achieved thus far? You’re not alone. Up to 82% of us feel imposter syndrome to some degree.
But what is imposter syndrome exactly? According to an article by the Harvard Business Review, imposter syndrome is “defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments.”
If you’re part of the 82% who experience this phenomenon, here are 5 ways you can tackle imposter syndrome:
1. ACCEPT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS YOURS
Many of us downplay our successes without even noticing it. We feel uncomfortable when people congratulate us, we brush off compliments, and we tell ourselves that our accomplishments are no big deal.
This type of behavior is the perfect recipe for feeding imposter syndrome. Instead, when you accomplish something, focus your efforts on accepting the fact that you did accomplish great things instead of diminishing your successes. A great way to get started with this process is to thank people for their compliments and congratulations instead of brushing them off.
2. CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESS
Just closed your biggest deal yet? Got a promotion? Your business turned 5 years old? Whatever it is in the professional life that you have accomplished, it deserves – and should – be celebrated. By celebrating your successes, you allow yourself to feel the pride and the happiness that should be associated with these wins of yours.
3. LOOK AT THE FACTS
The fact is: you aren’t an imposter, because if you were, you wouldn’t have the opportunities you have today nor would you have been able to accomplish everything you have done in the past that brought you to these bigger opportunities.
The reality of your current situation — your job, your opportunities, your progress — should be enough to prove to yourself that you are deserving of this success. You are capable of everything that your colleagues, supervisors, and clients have trusted you with.
Keep a list of all of your accomplishments — big or small — and take a look at that list every time you feel imposter syndrome rising.
4. SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE
When you feel like you may not be in a place to have such authority in a subject matter or an industry, speak with people and share your knowledge. You may quickly find that you know a lot more and have accomplished more than you think you do.
5. BE SELF-COMPASSIONATE
At the end of the day, you need to understand that you are trying your best and your best has gotten you this far — no matter how hard you find that to believe. Some days, it may feel more difficult to feel like the winner you are and that’s ok. As long as you look back on your whole trajectory and not a single moment of failure to determine your worth and capabilities, you’re golden.
To finish off, consider this quote from Marcus Aurelius:
“It’s time you realize that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet.”
You have the power within you; don’t sell yourself short to others or even to yourself.