What is Imposter Syndrome?

What is Imposter Syndrome?

People who struggle with this condition believe that they are undeserving of their achievements and the high esteem they are generally held. They feel that they aren't as competent or intelligent as others might think. Soon enough, people will discover the truth about them.

Let me break it down for you with a few questions.

1. How many times have you felt or had a thought that the achievements or accomplishments you have gained are a factor for luck or any other factors involved?

2. While talking to a person, did you ever think that my skill sets or ideas are not worth their attention and time?

A few examples can be

• When you get good grades in your academics.

• When you get a promotion/ award

• When you get a job

• When you get a new gadget

I have faced this issue and came across these two words, "Imposter Syndrome," on Twitter Spaces. Post this, a realization went through that I self-doubted my professional work.

Self-doubt is a common phenomenon people do privately. Not everyone voices them, and we conclude that it's only us thinking.

Circling back to my imposter syndrome, most of my colleagues are way more experienced than me in work and skillsets. This got me thinking that the position I am in is because of luck and the right timing; my credentials are just a checklist.

THIS WAS KILLING MY BRAIN !!!

I wanted to eliminate these thoughts and started to read about getting rid of the Imposter Syndrome in me. I came across a lot of solutions; here is the one that has worked personally for me :

1. Realize that no one is perfect: Everyone is dealing with a lot in their lives; it is not just you. We are in a world where Instagram gives us ideal life goals, Twitter gives us intellectual competence, and LinkedIn gives us the perfect career path. That's the harsh truth; we don't know what goes behind that and compare our lives with theirs.

2. Recognize your niche : (Personal favorite solution) Start teaching/tutoring people. I practiced this, which made me realize how far I have come, and there's so much knowledge to impart. Also, I realized that certain traits in me make my personality unique.

3. SWOT analysis: STRENGTHS, WEAKNESS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS. This is one the best thing there, take a pen and paper, four columns, write these down, be honest to yourself. If you find it challenging, create a google form and share it with your friends.

4. Talk to your mentors: I shared this with a few of my peers, and they said that feelings are normal. This made me recognize my personal growth and progress.

5. Feedback: The 4th solution, when practiced, is by sharing a form with friends, being open to feedback, taking a positive approach, and it shall do wonders. There was a time when I thought that it was worth it. Overcoming it was a milestone. The trick being told yourself, "This is for my life being better, and I chose these people for a reason."

I wouldn't conclude that I have eliminated my imposter syndrome. Still, it has decreased to the minimum and made me a better person. A special thanks to my friends and colleagues who helped me through this.