Are You An Impostor?
Probably all of us, at some point in our lives, have questioned our ability to face a work challenge, or doubted if we truly possess the qualities for which we’ve been chosen, or perhaps, those that led to our success.
Feeling like an impostor can be reflected as the fear that someone will discover you’re not an ‘expert,’ or the self-imposed need to obtain another degree just to consider yourself ‘qualified’ to start that project, or attributing your achievements to ‘luck’ or being in the right place at the right time.
And the truth is, things in life don’t happen for a single reason or in a single way. It’s possible that on the path to your achievements, you’ve benefited from someone’s help, that there might be things you still don’t know and need to refine in that new job, and that life’s fortuity has been on your side at some point.
But, for that to happen, first and foremost, you had to have been seeking it.
It’s valuable to recognize that not everything depends on us; maintaining humility opens the path to learning and acknowledging when we need help. Yet, it’s equally important to recognize your value, but more importantly:
… to recognize that most of the credit is yours.
There’s a reason why someone helped you at that moment.
There’s a reason why you were in the right place.
There’s a reason why you were selected.
There’s a reason why you were given the opportunity.
There’s a reason why you achieved it.
There’s a reason why you’ll achieve it again.
We all have qualities that have allowed us to get to where we are today, and they will help us get to where we want to be tomorrow.
Though every situation is different, identifying those qualities, defending them, and working on your self-esteem are essential to no longer feeling like an “impostor”.
