Mistaken Identity – the Imposter Syndrome
The voices in my head are relentless.
What will happen when they find out I am a fake??
Stay small, don’t bring any attention to yourself. Do not brag…
You aren’t that good – you just got lucky
Look at what they have done, who do you think you are?
You write a book? Ha what could you possibly have to say that matters?
Oh the negative chatter. Can you relate to it at all?
Imposter syndrome is that persistent feeling that you do not deserve success of any kind, and it’s only a matter of time before you are “found out”. It’s a devious mind trick that keeps you on edge.
I recently read a study that suggests that people who come from families that experienced high levels of conflict with low amounts of support may be more prone to experiencing imposter syndrome. This resonates so deeply for me. It echoes a past where I felt unworthy and unloved, reinforcing the belief inside of me that I am a failure.
If we are to continue this journey of self-discovery, we must revisit those questions again:
What are my core beliefs about who I am?
Do I have to be perfect to be loved?
Am I even worthy of love?
Can you ask those of yourself? How do we move past all this anxiety?
Start tapping and being curious as to what you are feeling.
Talk with someone, shame and anxiety lose their power when they are no longer kept secret.
Try to stop comparing yourself with others.
Begin changing your narrative from being lucky to feeling grateful.
We mistake our identity, our truest self by hiding behind the imposter syndrome. We lose the truth of who we really are. These are those deep seeded grooves that need to be confronted and reshaped.
Only then can we move those grooves.