How to Best Deal with Imposter Syndrome
Let's talk about imposter syndrome, shall we? This topic has been showing itself so much inside of Lead From Within recently. I find something so fascinating about impostor syndrome and its symptoms. What are the common symptoms?: 1) You feel like a phony. You feel like if someone were to find out who you actually are, they'd reject you. 2) You feel like there's no possible way that you are qualified for the position that you're in. Maybe you don’t feel good enough for your partner, or you might feel like you’re a terrible mom. Sound familiar?
It feels like there's an imposter syndrome pandemic (too soon to use that trigger word?). So many incredible, high-achieving women are doubting themselves rather than celebrating their achievements in life. I’ve seen so many amazing women get derailed from their path because they let imposter syndrome take the wheel. The problem is, imposter syndrome makes women doubt their capabilities and let fear control their narrative (example: "I'm probably not good enough to be here. I should shrink myself and disappear"). Sometimes when women sit in their imposter syndrome, they get paralyzed, or they start to take misaligned action. It's such a shame, because if a person is feeling this, that means they actually have something to celebrate! But instead, they may choose to self-sabotage.
Inside Lead From Within, we like to add the word “sacred” to things that are tough to handle, because it reminds us that there is divinity even in those hard things. It also reminds us that there's medicine within the problem, kind of like homeopathy- where you take a little bit of the hurt, and that's what heals the ailment. Impostor syndrome is sacred. Yes, it is. It’s sacred because it allows for clarity - if you’ll let it.
If you let it, imposter syndrome will reveal a deeper part of you- a sacred part of you. Impostor syndrome is leading you home. The space between who you think you should be and who you actually are is where impostor syndrome lives. The quickest way to heal impostor syndrome is to go home to yourself and love yourself. Love yourself for exactly who you are. Love yourself right now. Trust that you deserve all the goodness in your life. Trust that you deserve the position you've found yourself in, rather than doubting it.
When working with amazing women, it’s easy to have clarity on these women’s super powers and talents- even if they can’t always see it themselves. When we work together in Lead From Within, something cool that happens is these women are able to borrow from my clarity. One of the best parts of my job is that I get to reflect that clarity back to these amazing women. It’s so fun to watch them in turn say, ”I actually really like myself. I admire myself, I’m proud of myself.” It's the coolest job on the planet. I don't want them to take my word for it. I remind them of who they are. And then they take aligned action to affirm it.
They come up with the language about who they are, their own standards of integrity, their own values, their own leadership style. The way we do it at Lead From Within is not by following "Heidi's way of doing things”, but figuring out how YOU want to do things. This is about who YOU are and how YOU lead.
So next time, when imposter syndrome creeps up, take a deep breath. Love yourself. You’re in this position for a reason. You brought yourself here. It belongs to you- you just have to believe it. If you need some reminding, I can help. Send me a message and let’s chat.
