Impostor syndrome is the call for achievement but the denial of your success. People often use impostor syndrome to describe a feeling of not “belonging” somewhere. This could be in a workplace, a sport, a club—anywhere you feel out of place because you think everyone else has something you don’t. Out of everyone there, you believe you are the only one who is “less than” or “not enough.”
If left unchecked, impostor syndrome can create anxious spirals that harm performance and unintentionally reinforce negative thoughts. To prevent further damage, it’s essential to build confidence. Throughout this article, you’ll learn not only how to shut out doubt but also how to invite confidence into your life with just 10 minutes a day.
What is Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor syndrome is built around the idea of being an “impostor”—someone who pretends to deceive others. But in most cases of impostor syndrome, people aren’t trying to fool anyone. Instead, they achieve success but still feel like they’re pretending to be competent. Even with evidence of your abilities, you may believe you’re just maintaining a façade.
Impostor syndrome creates a self-defeating cycle: success is ignored or dismissed, while failure is treated as proof of inadequacy. This is different from normal nervousness when starting something new. Nervousness wears off over time; impostor syndrome doesn’t. It’s a persistent belief that you’re not as capable as others think you are, no matter how much you accomplish.
Why Do I Have Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor syndrome often stems from past experiences that create a deep mistrust in yourself, even when reality suggests otherwise. For example, a coach might have told you, “You’ll never be enough.” Even if you go on to win championships, that early mistrust can override your achievements.
It’s also possible to learn that success is due to external factors rather than your own effort or talent. If you were taught to be overly humble—downplaying your abilities and attributing success to luck or others’ help—you may struggle to see your achievements as valid.
Impostor syndrome doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s often the result of lessons you were taught, whether through words or actions, by people who shaped your early beliefs about yourself.
What is Confidence?
Confidence is the trust and reliance on yourself to accomplish something. It’s the opposite of impostor syndrome’s inherent self-doubt.
Confidence isn’t about being perfect, and too much confidence can lead to arrogance or mistakes. But healthy confidence is necessary and grows over time. It requires recognizing your achievements and trusting in your ability and effort. Confidence is the belief that the good things about you are real and meaningful.
How Do I Build Confidence?
Building confidence isn’t just about achieving more. It’s about recognizing and believing in the successes you’ve already had. If impostor syndrome has taken hold, it means you’ve overlooked these successes or dismissed them as unimportant.
With just 10 minutes a day, you can start building confidence. Here’s how:
- Identify 3 Overlooked Achievements: Think of three accomplishments in your life that you dismissed as “just expected” or attributed entirely to outside factors.
- List 5 Positive Attributes or Efforts: For each achievement, write down five qualities or efforts that contributed to your success. Don’t worry—you’re not being arrogant, you’re practicing self-recognition.
- Apply These to Your Present Life: Reflect on how these qualities and efforts still apply to where you are now.
For those who confuse humility with self-criticism, this exercise might feel uncomfortable or even “too prideful.” But it’s not about bragging—it’s about giving yourself credit where it’s due. In just 10 minutes a day, you can start the process of building trust in yourself.
Why is Confidence Risky?
Confidence can feel risky, especially if you’ve relied on self-doubt as a form of self-protection. You may worry that trusting yourself will lead to mistakes or that others will see through your “facade” if you let your guard down.
But confidence isn’t about ignoring reality—it’s about aligning your self-perception with the truth of your abilities. While it might feel risky at first, it’s ultimately about embracing what’s real and letting go of fear.
Conclusion
Impostor syndrome is painful because it leaves you feeling like no matter how much you achieve, you’ll never truly “earn” your success. Even with evidence of your abilities, you may dismiss it, convinced you’re not good enough.
Success alone doesn’t fix impostor syndrome—trust does. Building that trust in yourself can be challenging, like crossing a rickety bridge. You may know it’s safe, but stepping onto it takes courage.
By dedicating 10 minutes a day to recognizing your strengths, you can start to break the cycle of impostor syndrome. However, addressing the deeper roots of self-doubt often requires more than self-reflection. Impostor syndrome is frequently accompanied by perfectionism, procrastination, and people-pleasing, which all would benefit from being addressed as well. Therapy can provide the tools and support to uncover where your impostor syndrome began and help you rewrite the narrative that’s been holding you back.
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