7 Simple Ways to Stop Feeling Like an Impostor
Picture this: You’ve been told your whole life that you’re a good singer. And it’s something you love more than anything in the world. It’s a huge part of who you are. You sang in choir all through high school. You even majored in vocal music for a couple of years.
But you never felt like it was good enough. As a music major in college, you found yourself surrounded by super talented musicians. You just couldn’t help but feel like you fell short of where you wanted to be.
You were always terrified of making a mistake or not being good enough. In college, you found yourself practically having panic attacks backstage before you sang your solos in voice class. You “knew”, somewhere deep in your heart, that you’d never be as good as that person who went before you. You felt like a fraud.
You heard a voice echoing quietly in your mind: You don’t really belong up there with all those talented people in the choir. It was like you put on the disguise of somebody who deserved to be there and somehow snuck your way in amongst them.
You drifted like smoke around the room, never quite landing with anyone—because you knew that if they talked to you, they’d discover you as the phony you were deep down. You just felt like a total impostor.
Still, you’re stubborn, and you forced yourself to stand up, audition for things, sign up for a few things that took you out of your comfort zone. You forced yourself to get on that stage despite all the negativity you had to fight to get up there.
But although you have some small wins, you could never fully quash the feeling that your talents were a lie, that you somehow didn’t belong in that world.
You felt like an island for a long, long time.
But years later, you come to understand that the things you went through in high school and college were not so unusual. You find out your whispering demon actually has a name.
Impostor Syndrome.
So What Is Impostor Syndrome, Exactly?
The story I asked you to picture belongs to me. Not only have I had to move through many periods of impostor syndrome in my life—I’m not alone.
It’s estimated that a whopping 70% of people will deal with impostor syndrome at some point in their lives. So if you relate to my story in any way, you’re not unusual. But what does it mean to have impostor syndrome, and can you find a way to overcome it?
Impostor syndrome was first described in a 1978 study by two psychologists, Clance and Imes, which originally looked at high achieving women. As impostor syndrome came further into the light, it was found that impostor syndrome can affect both genders and people from all walks of life.
People affected by impostor syndrome are described in one 2019 study as “high-achieving individuals who, despite their objective successes, fail to internalize their accomplishments and have persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud or impostor.”
So if you have impostor syndrome, you might struggle to view your success as being valid. You might not feel like your success was due to the fact that you’re awesome at what you do. Instead, you may feel that it’s all due to luck. If you fail at something, you might think you failed because you’re inadequate. You might feel you don’t belong even if you’re in a situation you’re well-equipped for.
Impostor syndrome can especially be triggered by embarking on a new endeavor. Feelings of impostor syndrome can arise if someone has been a high achiever most of their life and then is put into an environment where everyone is a high achiever, such as starting at a university. Minority groups may also be hit harder by impostor syndrome.
People in any line of work could experience impostor syndrome. If you’re a creative entrepreneur, chances are great that you may have dealt with feeling like an impostor at some point in your career.
Of course, this can cause a lot of distress and anxiety, and even slow you down—which is not something you want if you’re running your own business.
As a creative entrepreneur, have you ever felt any of these things?
Feeling like a fraud
Feeling like you have to be the best at everything
Attributing success to luck
Setting extremely high goals, only to be disappointed if you can’t complete them
Doubting yourself
Feeling like you have to be perfect all the time
Never feeling like you know “enough” about a topic, despite deep study
Feeling uncomfortable trying to do something you’re not good at yet
Intense fear of failure
If these statements resonate with you, you could have a bit of impostor syndrome to work through.
How Can You Overcome Impostor Syndrome?
As a creative entrepreneur, your mindset is very important. Chances are, it won’t always be easy to make your dreams come together, and if you’re dealing with impostor syndrome, it can be all that more difficult to push through self-doubt. Even if you’re on an upward trajectory!
A 2016 study showed that in a traditional career role, being plagued by impostor syndrome can lead to a ripple effect of lower pay and fewer promotions. As a creative entrepreneur, impostor syndrome could lead to similar problems in business—and leave you feeling deflated.
So what are some concrete ways you can overcome impostor syndrome so you don’t lose heart as an entrepreneur?
1. Learn to recognize the problem.
If you can start to notice when you’re falling into unhealthy feelings of perfectionism, you can start to recognize them for what they are. If you feel extremely afraid that you’ll just get criticism or make a mistake, you could be falling into impostor ways of thinking. Acknowledge the impostor feeling, then start shifting your thinking one step at a time.
2. Keep a record of positive feedback you’ve gotten.
If someone gives you a compliment or positive feedback on something you’ve created, write it in a notebook or a Google doc. Or even just make a note in your phone. If you have a triumph in your business, record it in your designated document. Read it when you need a reminder that your work has lots of value. Use it as a tool to stir up positive internal dialogue.
3. Flip the script on negative self-talk.
Work on teaching yourself to flip that script when negative self talk happens! Try to think of failures as learning opportunities. Take a moment to pause and ask whether a negative thought is helping you or impeding you.
Work on reframing the way you think about things. If a negative thought pops up, notice it, and turn it to a positive light. Even practice saying some positive affirmations out loud every day, or make a recording of them to listen to daily.
For example, “I am abundant, I am capable and prepared. I am allowed to learn new things. Ideas flow easily through me. I am open to success. Failures only mean I’m one step closer to my goal.”
4. Talk about what you’re going through with people that you trust.
It can help to acknowledge your feelings in a safe space. Also, if you network with other creative entrepreneurs, chances are you know someone else who may also be trying to overcome impostor syndrome. If so, they might even have some inspiration for moving past it.
Being open and honest about what you’re going through can take some of the weight off your chest. Of course, therapy sessions could also provide a safe space to talk about impostor syndrome.
5. Take a realistic look at your abilities.
Take some time to write down things that you are good at, big or small. You could also list ways you’ve helped others in the past, experiences you’ve had that have proven your expertise.
Another way to truly see the value you bring to others is to lend a hand to someone who’s a few steps behind you—you might see more clearly that you know more than you think you do. Maybe this can help you create a picture of your true value that you can start to internalize.
6. Don’t compare yourself to others.
Don’t compare yourself side by side with someone who’s been on this path a lot longer than you—chances are, they’re further along just because they’ve been in the game longer.
Everyone brings different things to the table, so try to take every interaction as something you can learn from, maybe even a snapshot of what’s possible for you, rather than letting your mind turn it into a comparison session.
7. Recognize that you are not your thoughts.
We all have chaotic thoughts and emotions that come and go. But just because your brain tells you something, that doesn’t mean it’s true. Be gentle with yourself and remember that impostor syndrome is real. But you are not the sum of the thoughts that pass through your mind like clouds.
You are the entire blue sky, watching as they come and go.
Impostor Syndrome Doesn’t Have to Get the Best of You
Impostor syndrome is widely felt by many different people, and creative entrepreneurs are by no means immune.
Understanding and recognizing it within yourself can be the first step to moving beyond it.
Even successful, prominent people have had to deal with impostor syndrome. Maya Angelou, Serena Williams, Emma Watson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Tina Fey, and Lady Gaga have all been said to have dealt with impostor syndrome. You can go through it and still be a beacon of light in your industry.
You don’t have to let impostor syndrome hold you back from your dreams. Empower yourself with the knowledge that it won’t last forever, and that you can choose not to succumb to it.
If you’re a creative entrepreneur and you’re dealing with impostor syndrome, comment your thoughts or suggestions for dealing with it below.
