Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Recently, I was sharing with a dear friend some of my own struggles in life. She turned to me and said,

“Sue, I think you might have Imposter Syndrome.”

“Imposter Syndrome? What’s that?”

With a twinkle in her eye, she said,

“Google It!”

Of course I was curious, so the next morning as I was getting ready for the day, I listened to a whole talk on YouTube about it.

Good Golly Miss Molly! My friend was right!

I was struggling with imposter syndrome. In fact up to 82% of people suffer from it at some time in their lives.

So what is imposter syndrome?

In a nutshell, imposter syndrome is simply believing that you are unworthy and incompetent, even though your actions prove otherwise. People who suffer from this, feel like frauds, like they are imposters. They fear that they will be “found out” that they are not actually as capable as others believe them to be, despite the fact that they are!

Can I tell you a secret? I often feel like I'm faking it, whatever “it” may be!

I know that there are many times that this has reared its ugly head in my life, and made me want to retreat so people wouldn’t be disappointed.

A couple of instances stick out:

When I was a personal trainer, I overheard one of my clients say to a friend what an incredible trainer I was. I was getting results with my clients, and even had one featured in a local fitness magazine as they had such a dramatic transformation. I remember I was stunned to hear their glowing opinion of me! Who me? No! Must be someone else!

Another time I was leading a team of consultants when one of them called me their “fierceless leader.” They meant it as a compliment, but I didn’t really see myself as fierceless at all! I felt like a total imposter, despite the fact that I had the fastest growing team in South-West Florida! That was the demise for me as a “fierceless leader” as once again, I felt like a fraud; that I was pretending, even though my actions proved otherwise.

Do you struggle with this too?

I want to encourage you that if you think that you are not good enough, that 82% of the population feels the same way at some point in their lives.

The dichotomy happens when people look at us from the outside and perceive us favorably. However we live with ourselves 24/7 and know the real story of our weaknesses.

So how do you get over this? Here are a few simple steps that I believe could help:

1. Know that you are not alone, and that many successful people struggle with this, and yet still go on to achieve great things in their lives.

2. Treat yourself with kindness. You don’t have to be a perfectionist. Embrace your mistakes. That’s how we learn!

3. Graciously accept praise when praise is due. You are not being an egomaniac when you acknowledge praise for your efforts with a heart of humility.

The bottom line is that each of us were born to shine. In the words of Jesus, we aren’t meant to “light a lamp, and put it under a bed.” , we are supposed to put it up high, so it lights up the whole room!

Let me leave you with one of my favorite quotes which I hope encourages you:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

With much love

Sue