Could You Be Experiencing Imposter Syndrome?

Have you ever achieved something that you should have been really proud of, but instead you kinda felt like you didn’t deserve it? Maybe you won an award that you thought someone else should have received, or felt out of place in a uni degree that required a hefty ATAR? If so, you’ve experienced imposter syndrome. 

Put simply, imposter syndrome is the feeling of doubt or insecurity about something you have achieved, even though you worked hard to accomplish it. It can be a pretty common thing for young people to experience, especially if you’re going through some big changes in your life. 

Luckily, imposter syndrome isn’t something you have and you’re stuck with, but rather something that you experience. So if you think you might be suffering from it, the good news is that this is something you’re able to overcome. Here are some of the first steps you can take to start enjoying the success that you’ve earned. 

Recognise Your Achievements (And The Steps You Took To Reach Them)

When you start to recognise the effort you’re putting into things, you’ll feel more deserving of your achievements because you’re more mindful of all the hard work you put in. When you’re working to achieve a goal, the journey to get there can become clouded because you’re so focused on achieving it. Except when you actually pull off what you set out to do, you don’t feel like you deserve it. But by taking notice of the steps you take along the way, and celebrating the smaller wins, you’ll feel like you really earned everything you’ve accomplished.

Learn How To Accept Compliments

This is something that I need to get so much better at myself. I get so awkward when people compliment me and always shrug it off with some silly self deprecating comment and end up looking like a pick-me boy. 

The trick to accepting compliments is to simply say "thank you", and leave it at that. You can add a bit of pzazz to your words of thanks if you want, like “aw thanks so much,” or something along those lines. But the bottom line is: the days of being overly humble are over and it’s time to breathe in compliments like you’ve just stepped off a flight in Hobart and you’re sucking in that sweet, sweet, barely-polluted Tassie air. 

Also, compliments are easier to accept if you believe them yourself. This is why it’s important to switch up the way you talk to yourself and get into the habit of giving yourself compliments – which segues beautifully into the next point.

Cut Out The Self-Negging

You wouldn’t neg the people you love, so why do we constantly give ourselves such a hard time? When it comes to self-talk, most of us are way too hard on ourselves, giving ourselves a roasting that would shit on anything Pete Davidson could come up with everytime we do the smallest thing wrong. 

Instead, start to call yourself out when you say something to yourself that you wouldn’t say to someone else. Recognising negative self-talk is the first step towards kicking the habit, because when it flies under the radar, it just becomes a normal part of your subconscious.
 

Consider Professional Help

If you feel like imposter syndrome is playing an overpowering role in your life, look into seeing a psychologist or other professional therapist. This can be an intimidating step to take, but trust me, it’s really worthwhile. If you’re worried about seeing someone in person, most clinics also offer online or over-the-phone sessions which can be a little less daunting.

Start by booking in a session with your GP and see if there are any psychologists they recommend and get a referral for that clinic. You deserve to be proud of the things you’ve accomplished, so overcoming imposter syndrome is something you should prioritise. 
 

So if you’ve recognised that you have been experiencing imposter syndrome, you’re already one step closer to giving that feeling the boot. For now, start focusing on improving your self-perception and the way you speak to yourself. And be mindful of the work you’re putting into achieving your goals, because your wins will be that much sweeter when you take notice of all the hard work you’re putting in!