Be self-soothing. Try affirmations like: "I'm going to do OK, because I did OK last time. I know enough about this. I don't have to be perfect." It's essential to have grace for yourself. No one is perfect. We're all trying the best we can.

Being Self-Compassionate

Awareness is a key factor in helping yourself with the impostor phenomenon.Before you can work through any of this, you have to be able to identify it and understand it. Naming reality helps you find your way through it. Naming it also means recognizing other people feel like this, too. It's a shared experience.

Stop Feeling Like a Fraud: Bring Awareness To The Situation

There are people who tend to overestimate their abilities and some people who tend to underestimate their abilities.People who feel like impostors tend to underestimate their abilities. Because the impostor phenomenon makes high-achieving feel like they're not as intelligent, as bright, as creative, as able as other people think they are. And they live in a constant fear that somebody's going to find that out.

How We Perceive Our Abilities

Take a break when the pressure is high and be curious about how you're feeling.Don't judge yourself. Take some deep breaths. Get a good night's sleep when you can, or take a nap if that helps. If exercise is your thing, you can do that, too - whatever healthy choice you think may help reset your mind.

Less Judgment, More Curiosity

Impostor syndrome doesn't go away just because you achieve certain goals or you have a certain resume or you went to a certain school or you worked at a prestigious place.Even when you're experiencing all these places, imposter syndrome makes you quite anxious about whether or not you are doing enough. And you can imagine when you're surrounded by people who do a lot of great work, it only feeds your impostor syndrome in a way 'cause you're like, do I belong here?

The Impostor Phenomenon

<ul><li>Look to people who you are hoping to learn from and accept that you don't have to be an expert. It won't make you look weak.</li><li>Create community and build up your support system.</li><li>Ask your friends not to say, "you're going to do great; don't worry about it". Tell them about the kind of support that you need is related to understanding your anxiety, your fear, your feelings and say, I'll be here for you.</li></ul>

Ask For Help

We must acknowledge the societal impact that influences this feeling.Different racial and even gender groups are messaged with various things about their place in society. What we see, hear, and read can intensify this phenomenon.

Social Causes of The Impostor Syndrome

Steps to overcome the feeling that you don't belong where you are, and you only got there through dumb luck.

books

Books

problemsolving

Problem Solving

communication

Communication

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

The Imposter Cure

Impostor syndrome: it's the voice in the back of your mind telling you that you're a fraud, and that your peers are all smarter and more creative than you. In this episode, host Diana Opong speaks with experts about how to squash that voice.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

career

Career

podcasts

Podcasts

Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, we talk to the experts to get the best advice out there. Life Kit is here to help you get it together.Want another life hack? Try Life Kit+. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks an exclusive sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit