Imposter syndrome can be funny thing, it can sneak up on you at any time and stop you in your tracks.
Imposter syndrome can be defined as a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalised fear of being exposed as a fraud.
Symptoms or indicators can include:
- Lack of self-confidence
- Anxiety
- Negative self-talk
- Feelings of inadequacy
- Dwelling on past mistakes
If you’ve experienced those feelings you’ll know how they can really stop you in your tracks. As with some of the other topics we have discussed in the blog, such as Thriving and Surviving, the effects of Imposter syndrome can have a huge impact on your life, and are a matter of mindset.
So how can you help improve your mindset and fend off that sneaky imposter?
Here are my top tips
Break your silence
It’s surprising how often I mention imposter syndrome, to be treated with ‘I feel exactly the same’ or ‘That’s me!’. Talking about how you feel and breaking your silence is a great way to not only articulate the way you feel but to think about how you address those feelings and how you act on them.
Feeling or Fact?
Are you rubbish at your job? Are you actually about to be fired? Or do you just feel up against a deadline or that you aren’t achieving enough? Think about how you feel and decide whether it’s a truth or whether its your brain and your emotions.
Be mindful
You can’t change your mindset without accepting your thoughts and feelings in the first place, and it’s completely fine to have a wobble of mindset. The difference is whether you let that feeling pass or whether you hold on to it.
Champion the positives
One of the best ways to fight the fraud is to celebrate your achievements. Whether it’s nailing it at work, or fitting in an early morning gym session. Use the positive feeling to help celebrate your success, one way of doing this is to be your own best friend, what would your best friend tell you about your achievements?
Visualise success
What does success look like to you? What constitutes a productive or good day? What is enough for you. Using visualisation to set realistic and achievable goals can help you to rewrite your way of thinking and encourage more positive thoughts.
We all deal with our thoughts in different ways. However, forming more positive habits can help us overcome the negative feelings and achieve fuller, happier lives.
If you’re interested in learning more about mindset and finding out how just 60 minutes can transform your way of thinking, visit my 60 minute transformation session page or contact me via the website.