What is Impostor Syndrome?
This week, I was trying to decide what to post next on my blog:
“Should I post about health communication? More about health promotion? A current global issue? Climate change? Fitness? Wellness?”
And following this stream of ideas came a little voice in my head that began to swell:
“Who are you to speak on this? Do you know enough to talk about this? Do you have a degree in this? Do you have any experience with this?”
Have you had these thoughts before? With school? At work? When sharing on the internet? Then this article might just be for you…
What is impostor syndrome?
Formerly known as the impostor phenomenon, impostor syndrome is said to have been coined by clinical psychologists Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes in their article, “The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention,” published in Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, in 1978. They referred to it as a feeling of “intellectual phoniness.”
When experiencing impostor syndrome, you might feel a sense of fear of being exposed as fraud, incompetence, doubt, discomfort, stress, and anxiety.
Oftentimes, these feelings and thoughts can be triggered by a recent success, such as an award or promotion. But, they can also come when creating or sharing about something that you’re passionate about.
Or, if you are a self-proclaimed perfectionist, you may have also felt impostor syndrome. When you set very high standards for yourself, you may tend to procrastinate for fear of not reaching your own expectations.
Where do these feelings and thoughts come from?
The root of these feelings and thoughts can absolutely vary person-to-person, but oftentimes it stems from one’s upbringing and schooling. For instance, growing up in a family that stresses success and achievement from innate intellectual ability or talent rather than hard work can lead to these feelings of impostor syndrome later in life in other contexts.
Take school for an example as well. This system praises knowing over learning, as exemplified by how we’re taught to study and how we take exams. Then, as we move into adult life, these feelings can continue to come up in other contexts, simply from this sense that we can never know enough, let alone everything.
In more specific contexts, feelings of impostor syndrome can stem from speaking in one’s second language, being a newcomer to a country, being a woman, being the youngest on your team at work, and more.
Is impostor syndrome holding you back from holding healthy space?
This week, I recorded a podcast on Holding Healthy Space that dives into impostor syndrome and how it might affect us not only at school and work but also in other contexts, like sharing on social media.
Have you ever wanted to share about a social issue but felt unconfident or uneducated? Perhaps you wanted to share a Reel or a TikTok that you felt really explained something you’re passionate or concerned about, and you were so ready to hit share until a little voice in your head said:
Who am I to speak about this?
In this podcast episode, I chat more about my own experiences with impostor syndrome, in general, and when holding healthy space and how I navigate it.
Resources
This resource list is curated from resources I have used in the past and resources shared by my friends and followers on Instagram. I’ll continue to update this section as I discover more resources. Feel free to submit ones that you’ve found helpful by contacting me.
Firstly, feelings of impostor syndrome are often accompanied by anxiety and depression, and psychologists and other experts have acknowledged it as a specific form of intellectual self-doubt. If your feelings of impostor syndrome affect your daily functioning in your personal, school, or work life, consider checking in with a trusted family member, friend, mentor, coach, or therapist.
FORA Network for Change
One of my Instagram followers brought this organization to my attention. They offer programs that support women’s leadership development. My friend noted that she had met many young women finding a work-life balance while addressing global social issues. She noted that meeting these people has given her hope to be able to do the same herself!
The Imposter Syndrome Institute
Led by Dr. Valerie Young, the Impostor Syndrome Institute provides resources for individuals and organizations. They have a great selection of articles, infographics, interviews, and videos to learn more about and work through your impostor syndrome.
