Confident Mindset Series : Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome impacts a considerable amount of people, so some good news - you are not alone.  Imposter Syndrome is the inability to believe your success is deserved or as the result of your skills and talent.

Sounds awful, doesn't it?

This frame of mind presents itself in a range of ways, and it often associated with feelings of anxiety which can lead to low self-esteem. The leading Expert on Imposter Syndrome Dr. Valerie Young explains there are 5 common profiles :

The Perfectionist:
Someone who feels as if they need to do everything perfectly or else, they've failed. And if they aren't perfect, they have an overwhelming feeling of self-doubt.

The Superhero:
Someone who feels as if they're a fraud, either at work or in a relationship, and so they work extra hard to hide their supposed inadequacy. Often, the overload in work or stress of not measuring up is damaging to their mental health.

The Natural Genius
Someone who judges their worth by how easily something comes to them. If they need to work to master a task, they can feel ashamed and not good enough.

The Soloist
Someone who feels that they need to do everything themselves. If they need to ask for help, they feel incompetent.

The Expert
Someone who judges their worth by how much they know. They always feel as if they're not smart enough, and fear being exposed as unknowledgeable.

Fortunately, there are ways to counter Imposter Syndrome mindset. With a little restructuring of the mind, you can teach yourself to let go of some of these limiting beliefs.

These 5 tips are a practical starting point:

1. Remind yourself that everyone has their unique struggles: It's okay to experience a challenge. It's natural, and it's a part of growing.

2. Celebrate yourself and your victories: When you do get a personal win, acknowledge it. Take a moment to savour the feeling and celebrate the achievement you made.

3. Challenge negative self-talk: When you hear your inner critic pop up and attempt to tell you you're not worthy, change the dialogue. What would an inner friend tell you right now?  (We have a great workbook on the App called Inner Critic to Inner Friend - try it out!)

4. Practice positive visualisation: This is a powerful tool that can help you build confidence in yourself. Think clearly of yourself succeeding and do your best to shut out thoughts of failure.

The Mindology App has a range of resources designed to help you every step of the way. If you are ready for change and become more confident in yourself - enrol in our Confidence Workshop.

Download the Mindology App - an app to calm and empower the mindset available on the app store and googleplay.