Imposter! It be like that sometimes.
By: Indu Reddy
Tags: Imposter Syndrome, Burnout, Workplace

Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, impostorism, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their skills, talents or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud”.

We’ve heard everyone feels it, it’s a common denominator. So why does it still feeel so bad?

Well, because we’re all afraid. And fear feels bad. Anxiety feels bad. When we’re at our limits, deadlines always pushing slack pings subjugate one whole thought you almost completed before a ten minute warning of the next meeting, eyes flick to notes, a list of what should already be accomplished today the ring the bell of doom not from outside it’s your own heart beat you fool why are you here how are qualified for this it shouldn’t feel like this if you add value fit in lead teams belong…

Imposter syndrome leaks into all areas of our identity and worth — daughter, boss, employee, writer, girlfriend, feminist, gamer, sister, friend — trying to tell us that we aren’t good enough to be there. Anytime you feel like you’re not good enough to be somewhere, take a breather. It’s not a ‘normal’ way to feel in that it’s fine, it’s a ‘normal’ expression of anxiety and fear.

I think a big part in battling fear is courage.

It takes courage to drop our armor and reach out to someone. Sometimes, feeling like an imposter is a protective instinct that allows us defeat in the face of unknown. There could be underlying factors like not having a clear direction on deliverables, an unmanageable workload, a lack of inspiration, life stress, oh or a collective wound of the global pandemic amongst a real battle for human decency and power.

There’s no one stop shop to fix stuff. You know yourself best. The idea here is a couple ways to give your fear perspective and alleviate or address it. Can’t afk this one.

Relieve emotional pressure. If you feel like an imposter and it’s affecting your work input, output, self worth and happiness, talk to someone. If you’re not one to talk, douse yourself in yourself with a walk, movement or music. Take a minute you know. We don’t have to pretend it’s easy all the time and letting yourself say it’s not fracking easy sort of honors that you’re dealing with real pressure. And sometimes the feeling passes. Remember your worth. You have a portfolio and you have dreams. When you feel like an imposter take a minute to think of all the efforts you’ve been a part of. We have to cheerlead for ourselves sometimes we have to believe in ourselves sometimes, there is no guarantee that someone will witness to your growth over time so please, witness yourself. Try to celebrate yourself. And have the co-worker that will sing your praises if you forget how to do it. Make a list of the unknowns and what you feel like an imposter in. This is just for you no one has to see it. There might be solvable issues like getting more support, direction or leadership at work, taking a vacation (even a Friday off, yes you can), getting a therapist or counselor, carving time out for yourself or SO, making Grandma’s scones, playing through Cyberpunk, or finally budgeting your money. If you like to feel efficient when you’re down this is a great way to take steps and finally identify unfixable trends that aren’t changing. (The Virgo in me hiiiighly suggests this). Mom’s advice: take a hot shower, sip some chai, and breathe.

Being in this world requires strength and I can’t degrade that journey by missing its truth. We are a society of imposters pleading for our painstakingly manufactured masks to not reveal imperfection. Or at least, it can feel like that. I believe if you look closely, you will find the person next to you extending a hand all along, their cracked discarded mask nowhere in sight.