Impostor Series Wrap
Whenever my inner critic arises, it tells me I am bad or not good enough because something is wrong with me. It wants me to think this fundamental flaw is strictly internal and specific to me.
When I first read the seven “good reasons” to feel like a fraud, it felt like the small, dark room my impostor secret lived in got bigger and brighter. It challenged my inner critic and said, “It's not all me. There are reasons why I feel this way.”
Impostor Syndrome is not something people typically feel in every single instance in life. You may 'know' in your bones that you are an impostor at work, but are you feeling like a fraud when you go grocery shopping? Or hang out with a friend? Probably not.
Impostor Syndrome shows up in specific contexts, typically work-related. You feel like an impostor because of your relationship with work.
Some factors are specific to you, like your upbringing and childhood experiences. Other factors are based on the nature of your work, such as working alone or in a creative field, and factors from society about belonging, like being the only person representing your entire social group.
When my inner world says there is a problem and it's all my fault, it can be hard to fix without therapeutic help. However, when my inner world says there is a problem and the outer world exacerbates it, some handy tools are suddenly at my disposal.
What To Do:
Here are some common threads to support yourself through the impostor phenomenon and briefer crises of confidence.
Reach out. The central tool throughout this tool was talking to others about your experiences. Connection changes everything. Connect with colleagues, mentors, employee groups, creative groups, etc. Find your trusted people and reach out.
Self-trust. What if you gave yourself a little more grace and compassion? Is it possible to trust in your ability to figure things out? Is it OK to be a learner? If you are faced with a choice of trusting yourself or not, err on the side of trusting yourself.
Understand your context. Try to zoom out and look at your life. What identities do you hold (gender, ethnicity, etc)? What is the nature of your job? What historical and societal influences are present? If you take a moment to understand these dynamics, you may find solutions to navigate impending self-doubt.
Find a helping professional. Remember, there are helping professionals who can help you find your footing again. I offer free consultations to anyone who can use support. The sessions are 45 minutes and focused on helping you get a boost of support. If this could benefit you, make an appointment with me.