The Improbable Case of You: Diving Into Imposter Syndrome
As animals, we’re hard-wired to observe differences. As humans, we’re hard-wired to care about those differences. Indeed, all the incredible gifts our large brains and opposable thumbs give us, they also paralyze us with choice and conscience. Therein lies the rub.
It’s no small wonder that close to 70% of the U.S. population has experienced some form of Imposter Syndrome. What’s that you ask?
im·pos·tor syn·drome
the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.
Sound familiar? It likely has crossed your mind once or twice — maybe even more. You are not alone. From the most successful person you know to the one least likely to succeed, we’ve all bounced off the walls of accomplishment, from pride and achievement on the one extreme and self-doubt and confusion on the other. It may be the one true trait we all share.
There’s lots of research into where and why this happens — you can readily find that online. However, what can be offered is my own personal perspective and experience with this “phenomenon” and, more importantly, how I’ve tried to manage it over time.
