How to Use Imposter Syndrome to Boost Your Self Confidence

Self-confidence is not a virtue that you're born with but a skill that can be cultivated over time to suppress imposter syndrome. The post-pandemic world is a slaughterhouse of human emotions and feelings. We have all been at loss at so many levels. Some have lost their families, and their loved ones while others have lost their livelihoods. While not one of these reasons is lesser than the other but the common among all these is: We have all lost our self-confidence. Our generation is at the dead end with their mental space being clogged with imposter syndrome. It not only messes up with our beliefs and confidence but also challenges us emotionally and threatens our well-being.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

The 21st-century life has witnessed the use of this term more than ever before in history. But if you're wondering what is imposter syndrome, then let me enlighten you. If you're someone who doubts yourself at every step with a mind-space of believing that you're not competent enough. If you have a fear that maybe others will discover that you're not as intelligent, as successful, or as picture-perfect as others deem. When you experience feelings of self-doubt and confusion based on what others perceive of you, it is referred to as Imposter Syndrome.

To put it in simpler terms, you feel like a fraud or an imposter. The constant fear that people will soon discover that you're far from their perception of you. Mostly, successful women have been at the receiving end of imposter syndrome. But honestly, men are equally devastated by this delirious disease. Well, it is like having a crappy best friend inside you that says mean things about you.

What are the Symptoms/Characteristics of Imposter Syndrome?

Some of the most identifiable symptoms that people with this syndrome recognize are:

1. Self-doubt: People with imposter syndrome often end up questioning their worth and value. They doubt any decisions taken them and blame themselves when things are so bad. Their vision is blurred by the fog of doubt in their minds. This is an intense level of self-doubt that rattles their belief system. They are unable to enjoy their achievements and recognize their accomplishments.
2. Feeling like a Fraud: This often indicates that the person is not able to analyze their capabilities. They end up undervaluing their skills and flustering their growth. There is this inherent feeling in them that their "real face" will be seen by people. The fear of being mocked and that others will discover the "truth" about their incompetence.
3. Attributing their success to luck: Even when these people end up achieving their milestone, their reaction is to attribute it to either luck or chance. In a contradicting way, when things fall off they go on to blame and over punish themselves often by self-harm or sabotage.
4. Loss of Concentration: People with imposter syndrome are at the dead-end with their anxieties and sometimes to do more, they lose all concentration. They constantly set themselves up for unrealistic goals and often end up feeling disappointed. This frustration often builds up and leads to a loss of concentration in daily activities. They experience burnout and depression.

Finding your Self-Confidence

If you're someone who identifies with these symptoms of imposter syndrome then let me tell you a secret. The first step to controlling your imposter syndrome is to cultivate and build your self-confidence. This is easier said than done. But it is essential to take small steps in the right direction to build a reliable mind space for yourself. Rather you can use imposter syndrome to boost your self-confidence.
 

1. Search for Inner Peace:  The definite way to gain self-confidence is by finding your peace of mind. You have to be content and happy in what you do, where you're at, and how you are being perceived. The formula to happiness as said by Chris Do is to Think, Say and Do all that you can in perfect harmony. Most of our unhappiness comes from attachment- to knowledge, to power, or to wealth.
2. Subliming your ego: Another word for that is a sense of self-esteem or self-importance. When who you're inside doesn't match the person who you are outside, it is the ego that is pushing those parts away. The ego exists in the gap between your conscious and unconscious mind.
3. Let Go, Surrender, and Detach: You've to realize, that whatever may come, you have to be honest with your self and you have to be.
   Again quoting Chris Do, the great mentalist, "The irony of it all is when you relinquish authority, you gain it. When you relinquish power, you gain it. When you relinquish influence, you gain it. 

Can Imposter Syndrome be used to boost your confidence?

Did you know that 70% of successful people have dealt with feelings of Imposter Syndrome? Like the nagging thought in their head about the fear of failure and perfectionism. So you ask whether Imposter Syndrome is good for you? Most definitely if you want to live a dissatisfying and unhappy life and end up having anxiety, depression, self-doubt, and eventually chronic ailment. People are constantly measuring themselves against someone else's idea of success and think that vulnerability is for losers.

But there's a surprising way to treat imposter syndrome. It is by showing compassion and empathy. If you start by adopting a forgiving attitude towards yourself and accepting yourself for who you are. Start by living in the moment and appreciating today before tomorrow.