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A young person in a crises
A parent who wants professional opinion about the child's mental health
A young person who is having anxiety
A parent who has a child with eating disorders
A doctor who is in burn-out
A healthcare worker who is on the verge of giving up
A nurse that cares so much for their patients that they endure a lot of stress
An intern, a temp on the psychiatric unit who is being second-hand traumatised
A young doctor feeling overwhelmed by life and work
A curious person that wants to understand more
An empathetic person who gives a lot and feels depleted
A parent who needs support or guidence, listening, validation
A person working in schools or with children needing support, help or inspiration
A person facing a difficult decision or exposure
IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
Impostor syndrome is very common among extremely capable professionals.
Research say that those who experience impostor syndrome are better team players and are highly qualified at their job.
The problem with the impostor syndrome is not that we feel it. The problem is that it stops us from working, from continuing on to our path.
Theories about feeling like an impostor:
Choosing a career like doctor, nurse, psychologist, teacher etc will make you the target of other people's projection. You will have to carry the archetypal cape of a healer, an expert, an wise person. To do your job, you will have to actually take that role, eventhough your ego doesn't believe it.
Impostor syndrome may apear as the difference perceived by your self between how you are in the moment (just learn, still growing, or maybe having a bad day or a plateau in your process) and the calling that you feel you have, the meaning and the destiny you are ment to have. The impostor syndrome should not stop you in persuing your calling, but sometimes it does. That's why it is important to be aware.
Another theory about the origin of the impostor syndrome can be the internalized system of grades and scrutiny and assesment. For exemple, you got grades in school, good and bad. Your enviroment,your family, people that were responsible of your safety, responded in an disfunctional way. Like they would shame you or punish you, or retract their attention or love. So the child must become an impostor and pretend in order to keep the safety and the love. The child would have to hide their growing edge, the part of them that is not an expert yet, the part that is still learning in order to keep the adults interested.
The impostor syndrome may persist because of lack of ceremony, ritual, celebration of the success. Like in the Wizzard of Oz, the characters already had the qualities they were looking for, but when they got a diploma, a symbol or a ceremony, then they felt they acomplished the merits.
Article inspired by podcast: This Jungian Life with Joseph Lee, Lisa Marchiano, Deb Stewart.
Impostor Syndrome
Impostor Syndrome
Impostor syndrome can be survivor guilt. "I got out of a difficult situation and the others didn't. Did I really deserve it?". "I made it but my siblings didn't. Did I really deserve it?".
Guilt about different levels of privilege: "I had more opportunities than others so ,of course I succeded and became a doctor . Is my success really valid? "
The answer to these questions is YES. Your resoults are not fradulent if you hade access to privilege. Privilege gives you power. What are you doing with that power? Are you paralized because of the impostor syndrome?
Imposture syndrome can look like underestimating your self. What are the costs of that? If you are overestimating your self, I will tell you. Don't worry!
Impostor syndrome can be perfectionism. You are setting outstanding goals for your self, overworking yourself in order to prove that you are not an impostor. Sometimes your subconscious is convinced that you are an impostor (a lie) that your goals are so high that eventually you will fail. And that would be the proof that you are not legite (which is a lie. Failure doesn't take away all the effort and all the previous steps you acomplished. Failure is an important lesson, a necessary lesson that is a part of your process)
Impostor syndrome comes to those that have the believe of "The natural genious": If it done't come easily , it means that I am a fraud. Or "If I need help ,than I don't deserve the success"
All the theories of the impostor syndrome are hidding the question: " Do I have the right to claim my place in the world? Do I have the right to my own success?".
The answer is:
You are worthy, you are enough. You already have the right to be here, to be you. You don't have to do anything to earn respect or value. From your first breath, you are invaluable.
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