Do you have trouble feeling worthy of your accomplishments because you feel like you might not deserve it as much as the other person? 

Do you secretly fear that you’re not as good as people might think, and that you might be exposed as being a fraud or a failure?

If you find yourself feeling that way, you might be suffering from Impostor Syndrome!

You might feel…

• Unable to accept that your wins are based on your own effort
• Scared that you will be outed as a fraud, a cheat, or a failure
• Doubtful, thinking your achievements are based on luck or coincidence
• Incompetent or not as deserving of praise and recognition as your peers

But, why do people experience this feeling?

Impostor syndrome occurs highly in perfectionists because of the high expectations they set for themselves. If they don’t succeed 100% in every aspect, it will result in feeling like a failure. 

The syndrome could also be caused by unsupportive upbringing, such as always being compared as a child, or discrimination, which happens frequently towards minorities, resulting in a lack of confidence towards their achievements.

So, how do we deal with it?

• Learn to appreciate your achievements, no matter how small
• Acknowledge your feelings and identify what is causing them
• View your thoughts from a different perspective, learn to value constructive criticism, and take your doubts as a reason to improve
• Take time to get to know your character, strengths and weaknesses
• Share your concerns to a trusted person or seek professional help