Unmasking Imposter Syndrome – 4 ways to feel more confident
Ever feel like you are just not good enough or like you are pretending to be something you’re not.
Imposter syndrome is frustrating and can be debilitating and it affects women who have consistently proven their skill and experience.
But what if this feeling of being an imposter were actually a way of protecting ourselves?
When we feel like imposters, it’s because we’re scared of being vulnerable. We worry that if people see the real us, they might not like us or might think we’re not as good as they thought. So, we create a shield by doubting our abilities to keep ourselves safe from getting hurt.
Sometimes, we try really hard to be perfect in everything we do. We want to control everything and make sure we don’t make any mistakes. This is because we think that if we’re perfect, nothing bad can happen, and nobody will see through our “act.” It’s like building a wall to protect ourselves from failure or being judged.
We worry about meeting other people’s expectations. We don’t want to let them down or disappoint them. So, we pretend we’re not as good as we really are to avoid feeling pressure. It’s like wearing a mask to blend in and avoid standing out too much.
Feeling like imposters can also make us scared of standing out and getting attention. We worry that people might not like us or might be jealous of us if we shine too brightly. So, we downplay our achievements and try to be like everyone else to avoid any negative feelings or reactions.
Feeling like an imposter can hold us back, but there are things we can do to feel more confident:
- Knowing it’s Okay: It’s normal to feel this way sometimes, but we can learn to understand and manage these feelings.
- Being Kind to Ourselves: We need to show ourselves compassion and remind ourselves that we’re doing our best. We don’t have to be perfect all the time.
- Asking for Help: Verbalise your feelings to people that you trust.
- Celebrating your wins: It is so easy to focus on what you haven’t done, or what went wrong and we forget all of the things that we have completed and that have gone well. Celebrate your wins!
Conclusion:
By being kind to ourselves, asking for help, and celebrating our achievements, we can break free from these feelings and be confident in who we are. Remember, we are all special in our own way, and it’s okay to be ourselves!
If you know that imposter syndrome holds you back then book my one-off Break The Cycle coaching session to Reclaim Balance + Thrive.