Imposter Syndrome
Posted on May 21, 2022 by Robin Olson, One of Thousands of Spirituality Coaches on Noomii.
Imposter syndrome hits everyone at some point in their life, but it doesn't have to be scary. Here's what it feels like and how I overcame it.
Have you ever felt like an imposter? Have you ever doubted your abilities or feel like a phony? YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It’s estimated that over 70% of the U.S. population experiences imposter syndrome. According to the article, “Imposter Syndrome” on Psychologytoday.com, it was first documented in the 1970s among high-achieving women. Imposter syndrome is more prevalent in women, especially women of color, although men can develop the mindset as well.
Some of the characteristics of Imposter Symdrome are:
Fear of not living up to expectations
Self-doubt
Attributing success to external factors
Feeling like a fraud
Sabotaging your own success
When you receive a promotion or start a new job, or even try a new hobby like painting, imposter syndrome can creep in. I changed careers completely from accounting to spiritual life coaching. I left my corporate job in 2021. While I have several certificates as a certified coach along with a few years of active coaching and a lifetime of being the “go-to” person in my circles, I still question, “Can I really do this? Can I really make a go of entrepreneurship?”
My answer, “How can I not try?”
Every time we begin something new, we move through growing pains. Doubt rears its head after a while. We’re all gung-ho but if we hit a rough patch, we may start to question. “Am I in over my head?”
Facing my Fears
I have two fears: 1. I can’t support myself, and 2. I am uncomfortable marketing myself.
To the first, I say, “It will be ok. It takes time to build a client base.”
Why, may you ask? Because I cannot control other people. I coach to help another. In the end, I let go of the results to move forward. Letting go of the expectation of the results lifts weight off my shoulders.
To the second, I say, “Honor the process.”
The joy is working with people and watching them thrive. Coaching is a word-of-mouth, referral based profession. Life is about the process. When we keep this in mind, we can overcome that dubious imposter voice that tries to keep us safe from failure.
Here are a few things I do to counter-act my imposter voice:
Meditate – Starting the day with a quiet sit has been scientifically proven to improve focus and productivity as well as boost your mood. Just 30 minutes as day sets a trajectory to respond in a more meaningful and positive way throughout the day.
Set an intention – I have a planner where I set a daily intention. Writing down the words by hand helps establish it in the brain. Then, I say it out loud. I’m using all my senses. Well, except taste and smell, but I could smell it if I used Mr. Sketch markers!
Vision Board – I stand in front of my vision board and let the energy flow back and forth.
If you’ve never completed a vision board before, I highly recommend the project. One way to overcome imposter syndrome is to recognize your achievements. When you create a vision for the future, you realize what you have already accomplished to get to where you are now. The NOW is a jumping-off point to start a new vision for your future. Which, by the way, you can manifest.
I try to not be hard on myself and stay, as much as I can, in the present moment to combat my inner imposter syndrome voice. I drink in the energy of my vision board and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
