4 Steps To Overcoming Impostor Syndrome

Feeling unworthy or undeserving of your success and accomplishments? Or worse… feeling LUCKY?

Cue Impostor Syndrome.

Don’t worry — you’re definitely not alone. In fact, it’s actually NORMAL to feel this way (unfortunately). Most women, regardless of their success, never fully feel like they’ve actually earned their titles, accolades and/or achievements.

What is Impostor Syndrome?

Impostor Syndrome is when an individual (especially a high-achieving woman) tends to doubt their accomplishments and worries about being exposed as a “fraud”. Despite having external evidence of their competence, they continue to feel like they are not deserving of their achievements and will attribute there success to luck.

Sound familiar?

If so, you’re in the right place because it’s time to UPDATE this behavior — meaning replace it for something new — because this syndrome is NOT serving you well.

It’s actually causing you to play small, and as a high-achieving woman ALREADY, imagine what you can do when you step into your FULL potential (not just a portion of it).

1. Recognize and Reframe

You have to FIRST know what it is to correct it. Those small (but mighty) messages that are popping into your head without you knowing it and causing you to believe things that aren’t true. When you have those thoughts or feelings that are coming up, especially when you’re feeling vulnerable, you’ll notice yourself starting to feel small. THAT’s when it’s time to tune in. Listen to them, become aware, and immediately start to reframe those messages and affirm to yourself that you ARE worthy, deserving and freaking AWESOME. Period.

2. Go Back To The Drawing Board

Literally. If you can’t shake those fraudulent feelings, get out your journal and start writing down all the things you’ve accomplished, achieved, created, developed and experienced. Jot down every small and big thing you’ve done in your life (including milestones like birthing babies, years of marriage, etc.) — and do it as many times as you need to, or each time you have to, in order to start BELIEVING that you are deserving and worthy of ALL the success you’ve earned. These are good reminders for us that we have come a long way, have worked so hard, and are incredibly deserving for the things we’ve achieved. It’s time to OWN it, girlfriend.

3. Visualize Your Success

Sometimes removing yourself from the present and taking yourself to your future achievements will allow you to see the bigger picture of you, your life and what matters most. This is also a great exercise to do before you DO THE THING when you’re feeling the most vulnerable to Impostor Syndrome; whether it’s a speech, a presentation, an interview, etc. Close your eyes, even if it’s just for a few moments, and put yourself in a state where you’re either experiencing the “win” or seeing yourself in a few years with the life that you continue to work for.

4. Be In Good Company

I think the most refreshing thing to the challenges we experience is knowing we have others to experience it with. And as noted initially, Impostor Syndrome is more common than you think. Know that you are not alone and it’s normal to feel this way, BUT it’s not okay to stay there.

I get it. Those are all easier said than done, but you have to start somewhere. And it’s really important that you START by awareness — knowing that it’s normal and that those thoughts are just THOUGHTS. They aren’t facts.

You are such an incredible being and you have worked SO HARD to get to where you are. Don’t let Impostor Syndrome steal that from you.

And if you want THE best affirmations to help you get through Impostor Syndrome (and many other challenging situations) be sure to grab my freebie – 5 Affirmations Every Woman Needs in Her Life! Just toss me your email below and I’ll pop it into your inbox.