You’ve always been ambitious, driven, and hard-working, so it’s no surprise that amazing things are happening in your life. Whether you’re climbing the ladder in your chosen career field or accomplishing life goals like buying your own house or starting your own business, you deserve every bit of goodness that comes your way. However, imposter syndrome can creep up and steal the joy of your success and instead fill your mind with doubts that can be difficult to overcome. You start to feel like your good luck is just a fluke and that one day, you’ll be found out as the unworthy woman you truly are.
That is, of course, total BS. You’ve earned everything you have and are worth all of it and more. This is why it’s so important to confront imposter syndrome head-on — it shouldn’t have the opportunity to rob you of the incredible life you’re creating for yourself. If you’re struggling to quiet those voices of doubt in your mind and find that they’re causing serious issues in your life, here are a few strategies to try.
- Document your wins. It might sound silly, but this really works! Grab a notebook or journal to dedicate to your accomplishments, which we’re sure are numerous. It doesn’t have to be a major achievement, either — little wins count here too! Every time you hit a new milestone, reach a new goal, or follow through on a plan you made, write it down. This written log of all the great stuff you’re doing may not mean much at the moment, but it will serve as a record to look back on down the line of how smart, talented, and accomplished you really are. When you see it all in black and white, your imposter syndrome might just fade away a bit.
- Work on developing positive self-talk. At its core, feeling like we’re not worthy of the good things in our lives boils down to poor self-esteem. You doubt goodness because you don’t believe you deserve it. That might be because of childhood trauma, bad experiences in adult relationships, or simply a lack of a positive inner dialogue. Maybe you never learned how to do that — and that’s cool. However, if you want to overcome imposter syndrome and simply feel good in your own skin on a daily basis, it’s important to start now. Practices like meditation, positive self-worth affirmations, journaling, and even counseling with a licensed professional can help you reshape your inner dialogue to something way more uplifting.
- Normalize and embrace your failures. It’s possible that you struggle to accept success because you’re used to failure. It’s only natural that when you near “no” way more than “yes,” you start to think there’s something you’re missing and that you’re not good enough. So, when you’re finally recognized for your talents, you think someone must have gotten it wrong. They haven’t. Understand that failure doesn’t mean you’re lacking or that you’re unworthy of success. Instead, see it as a growth opportunity towards bigger and better things, and understand that its function is to prepare you for reaching your highest potential.
- Adopt a growth mindset. This is one of the best ways to overcome imposter syndrome and also one of the simplest. You’ve already reframed your failures, but you also need to approach challenges from a different perspective. When you hit a wall, don’t see that as rejection or a reflection of your abilities or worth. Instead, see adversity as an opportunity for growth and evolution. Utilize your creative thinking to find ways over the barriers in your way. Doing so will boost your self-confidence — “Oh snap, I can do it!” — and help you realize your own capabilities.
- Talk it out with your support system. The power of your circle shouldn’t be underestimated. Whether you chat with a friend, family member, or even a professional mentor, get your feelings out in the open. Let them know how you’re feeling and that you’re struggling not to doubt yourself even though you know deep down you can do whatever it is that you’re doing. Either they’ll come back with some great advice that might shift your perspective, or they’ll offer you support and encouragement. You’ll feel a massive weight lifted off your shoulders and you just might start to believe you’re as incredible as they do.
