Is Impostor Syndrome a Gift?
March 20, 2023
I have encountered many TED talks, online graphics, and articles where people refer to Impostor Syndrome as a gift. The claim is usually two-fold.
First, if some of the world's most gifted and talented people feel like an impostor, you are in great company, which is definitely a good thing.
Second, because Impostor Syndrome constantly keeps you in doubt, questioning everything, it keeps you on the edge of learning.
Let's take a closer look at each of these.
You’re in Good Company
Yes, some amazing people have spoken publicly about feeling like an impostor. The esteemed list includes Sheryl Sandberg, Tom Hanks, Michelle Obama, Lady Gaga, Barbara Corcoran, Tina Fey, Angela Merkel, Sonya Sotomayer, and more.
All these folks have jobs or are in positions that exacerbate Impostor Syndrome. I've made videos about Valerie Young's seven “good” reasons to feel like an impostor (see the link below to learn more). These include:
Messages from childhood
Working alone
Being a student and/or learner
Working in a creative field
Work culture feeds it
Being the only person who represents your social group
Being an outsider due to race, color, gender, class, immigration status, etc.
When you get to the top of your game or are the “first” person in your family or the world to do a job like this, many of these “good” reasons will be very active.
Folks who feel like an impostor can do extraordinary things in an attempt to stop feeling like one, pushing themselves to their limits. Yet feeling like a fraud doesn't go away with fame or accomplishment. Often, it is only exacerbated until one finds new tools to navigate it. The folks on this list have found ways to succeed despite their Impostor Syndrome, not because of it.
Keeping You on the Edge
Self-doubt operates according to the Goldilocks principle. Too much or too little of it is problematic. We're looking for the “just right” category called the growth mindset.
Being self-reflective and open to learning are hallmark qualities of a growth mindset, leading to creative thought, unique problem-solving, and transforming challenges into opportunities.
Impostor Syndrome falls in the “too much” category. It goes beyond self-reflection, turning into ruminating and perseverating on interactions that other people have likely long forgotten. Taking stock of a situation degrades into self-flagellation, beating oneself up for the minutest self-perceived mistakes.
Positive acknowledgments get bounced at the door, but only negative feedback is allowed into the inner sanctum to wreak havoc inside. Openness becomes exploitative, sometimes allowing others to take advantage of you or target their toxic behavior toward you.
This is not a gift. Impostor phenomenon is exhausting, debilitating, and damaging. Again, people don't thrive because of it; they thrive despite it.
Getting to Goldilocks
So how do you stay in that “just right” zone of self-doubt?
Impostor Syndrome tends to flare up in certain situations. Look at the seven good reasons list, see how many of those circumstances are present and adjust accordingly. If you are feeling alone, reach out to someone. If you are doing something that has never been done before, know it's OK to be creative.
If you find yourself perseverating or ruminating, usually, there is an emotion of fear and/or shame underneath it. Be with the emotion rather than re-imagining the situation. Feel the feelings until they ebb.
Talk to yourself like your best friend would, with kindness, empathy, and compassion.
If you tend to hyperfocus on negative feedback, be intentional about allowing positive input into your psyche. If that feels too difficult, try this exercise for a week: At the end of each day, write down three things you accomplished.