Where Did This Imposter Syndrome Come From And What Can I Do About It?

Imagine yourself….

Walking onto a stage to give a speech

Sitting at a conference room table getting ready to pitch an idea in a room with mostly men.

Hearing about a job opening and trying to decide whether or not to put your name in the hat….

What’s your confidence level?

How are you feeling? What are you thinking about your worthiness at this moment? What's your confidence level? If you are feeling like you should turn around, like you just aren’t enough, and like people are going to think you are a phony, you aren’t alone! You may be feeling extremely anxious. You may be having difficulty breathing, difficulty thinking clearly and articulating your thoughts. All of these experiences are contributing to the sneaky feeling that you don’t really have what it takes. Currently at least 82% of people (up from 70%) are endorsing “imposter syndrome”. So much so that it’s becoming a mainstream phrase that you’ll hear if you just listen.

Why is Imposter Syndrome on the rise? 

My impression is that the pause that happened during the pandemic, and the uncertainty and stress that was created and to some extent, is still there, cause people to feel more unsure of themselves. All of the defenses people were using (staying busy, socializing, running around to various activities, other distractions) were no longer available to us. Suddenly we were left to our own devices and many of our previously buried insecurities (possibly from as far back as childhood) quickly emerged. Coupled with the need to navigate the new normal of work (chronic uncertainty), we had a perfect storm that created the feeling of being an imposter.  

What do we do about it?

Well, what we don’t do is ignore it and hope it goes dormant and leaves us alone. Problem with that is that any unresolved issues we have (insecurities, emotional distress from the past) are destined to affect us even if we aren’t conscious of it. A more effective perspective would be to address it head on. Heal from the past so that you will have a more solid foundation to go out into the world with. You are bound to be more successful. With EMDR we track that feeling of not being good enough back to when you first experienced it in your life. You process the memory and feelings from a more mature and less distressed vantage point and end up with a very different take on what happened. Now you can truly believe that you are enough, You deserved better treatment and you still do. This shift is life changing!

Think of it…you’ve resolved your imposter syndrome. 

You walk out to do your talk, you stand up to pitch your product. 

You are thinking clearly, speaking steadily and intelligently,  with conviction and ease. 

You are on top of your game. 

That’s what can happen if you believe in yourself and take the steps to resolve the insecurities. Reach out to me to learn more about therapy for imposter syndrome and how it can help you find your confidence.

Confidence looks good on you!