Maybe I am who I actually think I am

#impostersyndrome

There are voices in my head that check-in and out from time to time. Especially when updating my CV, applying for an opportunity, introducing myself to a 'highly esteemed' crowd, and in other situations where my expertise must be proclaimed.

One voice asks, 'How do you know you are qualified enough?' and another echoes, 'Do you even have the experience for that?' And so the song goes; maybe you are still too young or perhaps there's something more that I need to be enough. When imposter syndrome knocks on my door, I often don't leave my comfort zone or dare to set myself up for challenges.

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that reflects deeply held beliefs of incompetence or inadequacy despite evidence of one's success and exhibited skillsets. For every ten people, seven experience imposter syndrome at different points in their lives. That simply means there are many of us, right? There are five types of imposter syndrome which have all been named by their respective attributes; the perfectionist, the superwoman/man, the natural genius, the soloist, and the expert. My type is 'The Expert' and a very simple example is just how long I have been wanting to write about imposter syndrome but never did until now! The voices in my head kept shouting, 'You are not an expert on this.'

This past week, I had some time to reflect on imposter syndrome and deduced that feeling like a 'phony' does not make you one, just like being rich. Imposter syndrome is 'heavy' on the feeling and does not represent a person's true reality. Reflecting and learning more about your type of imposter syndrome is key in identifying ways of working and experiencing success and failure healthily. Fraudulent feelings can keep us in routines of improvement and blind us from the capacity and proficiencies we have garnered so far. Learning to accept our current position as sufficient for the problems and opportunities in our hands is a foundational step to overcoming imposter syndrome.

Besides, the goal of life, in my opinion, is to EXPERIENCE life and everything that comes with it. Not to be experts or perfectionists or heroes. All these voices that hold us back don't matter! Life is for the living, so go forth and do what you think you are still not good at.

You can read more about imposter syndrome in this article https://www.themuse.com/advice/5-different-types-of-imposter-syndrome-and-5-ways-to-battle-each-one

What is your type of imposter syndrome? (If any) How do you cope?