Have you ever had such an experience? Achieving certain achievements and being praised by others, but feeling that they are just accidental, and afraid of being discovered by others that they actually do not have such abilities. This worry may be impostor syndrome.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome (Imposter Syndrome) refers to the psychological phenomenon in which people find it difficult to feel that they are successful and worthy from the bottom of their hearts, rather than a mental illness. Even if such people have a lot of external evidence to prove their strength and ability, they still firmly believe that they are not worthy and unworthy of such success. They attribute their achievements to good luck and chance, and cannot openly embrace success. Additionally, impostor syndrome is common in perfectionists.
People with impostor syndrome often have self-deprecating thoughts, such as ‘I just got this job by luck, and one day others may find out that I actually have no ability.’ They are constantly worried about being exposed by others. A few people even feel uncomfortable when being complimented and want to change the subject.
What are the manifest behaviors of impostor syndrome?
a) Go the extra mile
In order to avoid being exposed, they will study and work extra hard, hoping to cover up the fact that they are lacking in ability.
b) Hide comments
They rarely express their opinions, and most of the time they echo the opinions of others because they feel that their ideas are probably wrong and not worthy of reference.
c) Desperate desire for recognition
People with impostor syndrome often work very hard to gain the approval of others, because this can temporarily relieve their anxiety of being exposed and confirm that others approve of them.
d) Unable to openly embrace success
Even if they achieve something, or get a job or praise, they cannot accept it frankly. They often attribute it to luck and success.
You’re Not Alone—There Are Many Famous and Successful People with Imposter Syndrome
- Natalie Portman said in her graduation speech at Harvard University that she always thought that she was not as smart as other classmates and had entered Harvard’s star halo, so she chose a particularly difficult major that made her physically and mentally exhausted
- Maya Angelou Even after writing eleven books and winning awards, she still doubted her abilities.
- The famous TED speaker Amy Cuddy also mentioned that when she entered Princeton, she felt strongly that she did not belong here and was just a fake. When she was teaching at Harvard, she met a female student who had the same experience as herself.
Many celebrities and successful people in our eyes also have this situation. Even though they have achieved achievements that many people cannot achieve, they still doubt their abilities. So how can we improve the impostor syndrome?
How to improve impostor syndrome?
a. Self-affirmation and building self-confidence
Amy Cuddy says, “Affirmations are a technique for telling your story clearly.”
Take the time to get to know yourself. Try asking yourself the following questions and take time to think about and answer them:
- What are your core values?
- What is the happiest and most satisfying thing for you?
- What are your special strengths?
- In what situations can they be used to their full potential?
These questions and reflections not only help people understand themselves better, but also build self-confidence and discover their strengths and areas of appreciation.
b. Find partners and friends who truly appreciate you
Like the celebrities mentioned above, many of us suffer from imposter syndrome, but we are often afraid of letting others know. Friends around you may have the same experience. Find them and discuss this situation, and you may gain unexpected gains and resonance. Also, find friends who truly appreciate you. When you are confused, they can remind you where your strengths are and believe you can do it.
Do you also suffer from imposter syndrome? Is there any solution? Leave a message and share it~
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