“Say something that no one would ever guess about you.”‍

“I have never felt good at anything.”

Do you ever feel like a charlatan? As if you've duped everyone into thinking you know what you're doing while you're entirely unqualified? Do you ever feel bad about getting paid for the bare minimum you throw out into the world?

If you answered yes, I’m afraid you might be suffering from imposter syndrome.

And that’s ok.

I first heard the term imposter syndrome from a friend (shoutout to Natalie) when I was whining about how inept I feel. She then explained the syndrome to me and told me to stop viewing it as a hindrance but rather as a drive for advancement.

I spent so much time trying to master the act of pretending. Balancing my plates of commitment while indulging in a fun social life — truth is I am barely hanging on.

On the surface, I appear to be an active, cheerful, versatile, and brave individual. I've been involved in a variety of campus organisations since I was a child, and I've had the honour of serving as a leader in many of them. It’s not hard for me to fill up my resume. Yet, there is always that annoying (loud) voice in my head that tells me:

You are not good enough.

Everything you have achieved was through luck and connections.

You will never be good at this.

Why are you even trying?

I’m not good with compliments. You’d never think, based on how often I smile and joke around this negativity that runs through my head on repeat, day and night — like a broken radio. I fear that one day those voices in my head will be exposed, that people will discover what I’ve been telling myself: that I’m not good at anything. I take on a ton of jobs and activities, and when I don’t do them, I feel awful. Saying no and asking for help is one of my weaknesses because I am afraid that people will think I’m incapable and lose faith in my abilities. I am undeserving of any title or praise.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is defined as an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. It's the sense that at any moment, someone will discover that you don't belong in a position or place, or that you aren't deserving of what you've accomplished. In other words, it is something I encounter on a daily basis.

Look at it this way. A source from Reddit once said that imposter syndrome is like a dragon guarding a door, and the trick is to realise there’s nothing you actually need on the other side of the door, so you don’t actually need to confront the dragon.

Many people who believe they are not capable of completing a task do so nevertheless, not allowing fear to keep them from pursuing the possibility of success or learning something.

However, those suffering from imposter syndrome tend to let their anxiety guide their decisions, potentially leading to complex self-sabotaging outcomes.

It won’t stick around for long.

It can help to think of Imposter Syndrome as a temporary condition. When those sentiments arise, they can even be interpreted as a sign that you are doing something difficult, such as working at a high-flying corporation or in a school program with bright peers. Imposter feelings, when viewed in this light, may indicate that you are on the right track! You may even come to accept these sentiments as part of taking healthy risks and growing.

You’re still here? Let me help.

I am no expert of course, I’m just a student after all. However, I have been blessed to be surrounded by a great and encouraging community. Here are 3 tips that I have picked up from them that have served me well till date.‍

1. Acknowledge it

I often make the joke that I’m great at cardio because I run from my problems daily. Not cool.It is completely normal to have it all together yet feel like you don’t. It's normal to feel like there is someone out there who can do your job better than you. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Actress Meryl Streep once said, “You think, ‘Why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I don’t know howto act anyway, so why am I doing this?”

You are not alone.

2. Allow yourself to let go of your inner perfectionist

Perfectionism exacerbates your impostor condition. When you feel like a fraud, it's usually because you're comparing yourself to an impossible or unrealistic standard.

Not only can no one accomplish everything flawlessly but subjecting yourself to that level can be quite detrimental. You must take a step back at some point and ask yourself, "Does this meet the required standard?” Not, “Does this meet MY standard?”

3. Track your success

As cliche as it sounds, stop for a moment and remember where you are. There’s a version of you, a year ago, a month ago,who would be thrilled to be where you are today. Keeping track of your success helps you tell yourself that you’re actually doing well.

Bottom Line: Big change happens in small steps. You can’t get rid of imposter syndrome overnight and waltz into living your best life. Life is one hell of a roller coaster and experience makes anything look easy, but insecurities never fully disappear.

Here’s the thing though, whether you believe me or not:

It gets easier.

You belong here.

And you are going to be great.