Imposter Syndrome

Do you remember the first time you felt like a fraud? Perhaps it was when you accepted the promotion that elevated your career to the executive level. It could have come with the realization that you had met the love of your life and were ready to move toward marriage. The feeling may even flare up with each post you make as a social media influencer. Regardless of the circumstances, it is safe to say that at some point or another we have all felt the sense that the world around us is clueless to how unqualified we really are when it comes to leading, loving, and living well. We all deal with an inner imposter. To be fair, if we are to experience any true level of growth or advancement personally or professionally, it is required that we step into roles and spaces that may initially feel too big for us to fill. It is true that new opportunities bring with them their own sense of challenge and adventure. But, much like a growing child, with time we mature to fill those proverbial “big shoes.” The sense of inadequacy that has come to be identified as imposter syndrome, however, is something that is altogether different. To be gripped by fear, to be paralyzed into inaction, to be seized to the point of self-sabotage are the lot of those entangled by imposter syndrome. “If my partner found out what I was really like, they would leave me instantly.” “If my boss learned that I not as good at my job as they think I am, they would fire me in a heartbeat.” Such thoughts comprise the inner dialogue of someone in an ongoing battle with imposter syndrome. The self-destructive thought that we could never qualify for the life we currently live and that our “act” will soon be discovered will shackle us to our present, force our minds to live in the past, and cause our hope for a bright future to erode away.  What hope could there possibly be?

Could a day ever come when our inner imposter passes the microphone in our mind to a positive voice that speaks both truth and grace? Yes! For some of us, we may deal with our inner imposter for the rest of our lives. Yet, it is possible to change your thinking in a way that begins to accumulate wins on the way to having victory over your thoughts. Here’s a very practical tip that can be implemented right away that will prompt a path toward change:

Purchase some notecards and grab a pen. On the postcards, write down things that remind you of your true identity. Write down words that acknowledge the truth, and at the same time, encourage you to move forward in your journey. Below are examples to get you started:

— I am who God says I am.

— I am loved by God and He is working to make me who He wants me to be.

— I  am taking steps every day to grow personally and professionally.

— I will show up authentically in every relationship today.

— Each day brings with it great opportunities to be challenged and to grow.

Write down several notes of your own and read them aloud daily. Over time, you’ll begin to notice changes, and so will those around you.  Remember, when you change everything around you changes.