It's a beautiful Thursday and guess what topic I want to discuss?
Ever felt you are not deserving of your achievements and where you are, that it not only passes as normal thought but has become really disturbing?
Have you heard of Imposter Syndrome?What exactly is Imposter Syndrome?
It is the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills.
馃槻Does that sound familiar?
How does Imposter Syndrome affect you?
People suffering from impostor syndrome may be at increased risk of anxiety.
馃馃Ringing a bell?
Sure doesn't sound good.
Read Ariel's Story for a little overview 馃檪馃檪
***
Ariel stood at the front of the conference room, her palms sweating and her heart racing. It was her first major presentation for the marketing company where she had worked for the past year, and her nerves were beginning to get the best of her. As she clicked through her slides, she couldn't help but feel like a fraud.
Who was she to be leading this presentation? What if someone in the audience asked her a question she didn't know the answer to? What if they saw through her carefully crafted facade and realized she didn't actually know what she was talking about?
As she finished up and the applause died down, Ariel felt a mix of relief and disappointment. It was over, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she had somehow tricked her way through the presentation, fooling everyone into thinking she was more competent than she truly was.
This feeling, known as imposter syndrome, had been a constant presence in Ariel's life for as long as she could remember. It wasn't just limited to work either鈥攕he felt like a fraud in her personal life as well.
Despite her successful career, Ariel often felt like she didn't belong among her coworkers. They all seemed so confident and knowledgeable, while she felt like she was just faking it, waiting to be exposed as a fraud.
The problem was that this feeling didn't just make her feel uncomfortable鈥攊t had real-world consequences. Ariel had turned down opportunities for promotions or new projects because she didn't feel qualified enough. She had avoided networking events and social gatherings because she felt like she didn't belong. She had even kept herself from pursuing her true passions, like writing and art, because she didn't believe she was good enough.
It wasn't until Ariel began seeing a therapist that she learned that she wasn't alone in her struggles with imposter syndrome. Many successful people, especially women and people of color, experience this feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt, even when there is ample evidence to suggest they are more than capable.
With her therapist's help, Ariel began to see that the voice in her head telling her she was a fraud was just that鈥攁n unhelpful, negative voice that didn't reflect reality. She started to reframe her thoughts and focus on the evidence of her accomplishments and skills, rather than the voice of doubt in her head.
She also began to take steps to push herself out of her comfort zone, such as speaking up more in meetings or taking on new projects that scared her. With each small success, she started to feel more confident in herself and her abilities.
It wasn't an overnight transformation, but over time, Ariel started to feel like she belonged in her career and in her personal life. She was able to pursue her passions without feeling like a fraud, and she even started to mentor others who were struggling with similar feelings of inadequacy.
The journey with imposter syndrome would never truly be over, but Ariel had learned how to recognize the feeling and fight back against it. She knew that she was more than just a fraud pretending to be successful鈥攕he was a capable, competent, and worthy person who deserved all the happiness and success that came her way.
That knowledge was the victory that she had been striving for all along.
The End!
Let me know whether you enjoyed the story and would want more of it 馃グ.
Don't forget to share your experience if you have ever felt this way.
Thanks for Engaging 馃挜馃挜
Happy Thursday