Have you heard of impostor syndrome?

Impostor syndrome has become a popular topic on all of the podcasts i have been listening to lately. Until now i had not heard of it, although we all likely have wrestled with this without knowing the name of it.

Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, impostorism, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which one doubts one’s accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud”. Despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon remain convinced that they are frauds, and do not deserve all they have achieved. Individuals with impostorism incorrectly attribute their success to luck, or interpret it as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent than they perceive themselves to be. While early research focused on the prevalence among high-achieving women, impostor syndrome has been recognized to affect both men and women equally.

So it is a sense of inadequacy for the role you are in. I think this is a normal process in growing in your role, especially as an enterpreneur. Honestly i think we all face a struggle for a time with what we know, and how we present it to the world.

Over the past few months i have been hearing about this over and over so much that it was time to take inventory. Do i have this going on?

• Take a test – find out where you stand with this syndrome. I found a great free resource to do just that. It takes your complete honesty and about 10 minutes of time. The results are instant, and the guidance is clear. Click here to take the test
• Fill your thoughts with the advice and guidance of those who are a few steps ahead of you on the journey. I am a voracious reader and love books that will change my mindset. Podcasts can also be powerful to change those thoughts that keep us stuck, or reframe how we view our situation. Several recommendations of podcasts on apple podcast are “The Dean Graziosi Show”, “Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Poterfield” and “Goal Digger Podcast” with Jenna Kutcher
• Look around, and remind yourself that everyone that is considered an expert in a subject started out one day on the quest to become that. We all start somewhere. Truth is you likely know more than most people on your subject of choice.
• Own your expertise, and dont settle where you are, but grow… keep learning, keep researching and keep pushing on.

If there is one lesson to learn from this syndrome it is just this- this is a form of insecurity that needs to be shed for you to come into all that you are meant to be. Lay aside those insecurities, and realize that you have a voice, an expertise, a specific purpose in this world, and a message that only you can deliver in your unique style. Be you, do what you are called to do and shine.