Getting over Imposter Syndrome
I have been suffering from this for a long time, still unable to get over it and finally decided to write this blog to leave behind that anxiety and build a more confident “ME”.
Imposter syndrome can be loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud, adding more to it you may experience low self-esteem, an inability to realistically access your competence and skills and it gets worse when you can’t take credit for your own work. You attribute your success to external factors and that’s the point where you should take a step to get over it else it worsens with each passing day and you would never be able to feel happy even after giving the best of yourself.
About 9% to 82% of the population suffers from imposter syndrome. It is more prevalent in women. Research shows that as women’s experience increases over time, so do their confidence still the confidence gap can’t be ignored, the reasons can be many.
One of the biggest reasons I feel is the reservation system. Undoubtedly, it has worked well for the upliftment of women but alongside it might be the reason for their low confidence. Even if a woman has achieved something because she really deserved it, some people will say it's because of the support she got. It is ok to hear this once, twice, or thrice but if we keep hearing this on daily basis then it becomes the reason for them not believing in themselves and then they start feeling like a fraud. When working in a team, they can’t take credit for their own work, when their team achieves something they think it’s because of others.
Apart from the external factors, it may be because of comparing yourself with others, that’s the worse thing you do. It is very important to understand that comparison should be with yourself, the past you, and the present you. You need not chase others instead you can take motivation from them, but do only what you love to.
Don’t wait for others to feel proud of you. Feel proud of yourself. Achievements don’t mean getting an internship, good grades, or getting placed in a big company. Achievements are whatever you do on daily basis, if you learnt something or started learning it, even if your rating increases or it can be anything, feel good about doing something. Not everyone works consistently. If you are doing it, know that you are always one step ahead of others. Self-praising is important and it keeps you motivated. So, do it!
Social interaction also matters, working in silence doesn’t work in the long run. If you achieved something, share it. Celebrate your success. Be it a scholarship, getting selected somewhere, or anything. Believe me, it does make us happy to see those congratulation texts in the comment section. So don’t consider sharing as bragging. You achieved it because you deserved it. So, it is no harm to share your success with others.
In the end remember that if you are feeling like an imposter, it means you must have achieved something in your life that you are attributing to luck. Try instead to turn that feeling into one of gratitude. Look at what you have accomplished in your life and be grateful.
