3 Ways to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

It’s time to kick imposter syndrome’s arse, leaving it in the dust where it belongs. These three simple steps will take you from feeling like a fraud to being the true you.

“Who the hell do you think you are?! You don’t know enough to do this. You’re not good enough to have that. Everyone knows it. You’re sure as hell not as smart and funny and attractive and loveable – and, and, and, and – as everyone else.”

What a complete cow! I can’t believe she actually said that to me. 

Oh wait – those words hadn’t come from anyone around me… they were in my own head. 

Indeed – I was the cow in question.

I was the one who’d been telling myself that I was an imposter in my own life. A fraud on every level. 

I was the one who was just waiting to get found out and kicked out of the clan.

You probably do it too.

You tell yourself you’re not good enough, not worthy enough, not smart enough.

You compare yourself to everyone else and they always seem to come off on the higher end of the life see-saw.

You bite on your nails and wait for them to realise that you’re actually not that good at your job, you’re not as accomplished as they might think, and you don’t really have a beautifully instagrammable life like everyone else.

So – how do you and I move past this sometimes-crippling imposter syndrome? This internal state that brings with it other joys like self-doubt, low confidence, procrastination, worry and overwhelm?

Here are three ways I’ve found to kick imposter syndrome’s arse, leaving it in the dust where it belongs:

Step 1) Shine a light on it and see it for what it really is.

Feeling a fraud in your own life really can feel like you’re carrying around your biggest critic, shouting untruths at you from every angle. The best way to take the power away from this dark, disempowering monster is to shine a bright light on it. 

Get it out into the open. Say it out loud. Talk about it with others. Recognise that it’s not just you who feels like this. 

Step 2) Create a new truth and, ultimately, a new reality.

Tell the internal voices that you appreciate that they’re trying to keep you safe (after all – it’s the job of our unconscious mind to stop us from stepping outside our comfort zone in case we get hurt), but that what they’re saying is simply not true. 

You are good enough. You can do it. You are equal. It will all be okay.

Every day, remind your mind of these new truths – until they become your reality.

Step 3) Step into your purpose.

As you start to create your new reality, ask yourself:

Who is this new, empowered me?

What fills her with joy?

What’s she good at?

When you’ve combined the answers to these important questions, seek out every opportunity to be that person every day. Live her life with passion, positivity and purpose.

I’m curious… 

1) What do the voices of your imposter try to tell you?

2) What one thing could you do today to move away from feeling like a fraud and towards being the true you?