Imposter syndrome is a beast that haunts the minds of many college students. It looms over shoulders and lurks at the bottom of the proverbial staircase, just as soon as one thinks their goals are well within reach. As defined by the National Institute of Health, imposter syndrome is “a behavioral health problem described as self-doubt of intellect, skills or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals.”
Conquering imposter syndrome starts with first identifying why feelings of accomplishment so quickly turn into feelings of inadequacy and shame. In a university setting, young adults are surrounded by peers in the same major as them, oftentimes reaching toward similar career goals. It is difficult to feel secure of our capabilities and the impact of our work when so many other students are hitting the same thresholds.
This sows seeds of comparison and confusion even when we feel we’ve done our best work. It’s a mental race where the finish line only moves further and further away. This type of thinking reinforces feelings of being fraudulent on one’s chosen path. To avoid this, we have to consider the very fact that we did the work in the first place. We can breathe a sigh of relief and realize the truly hard part is over. It is only the mind that needs rewiring.
Those most prone to imposter syndrome are those who face underrepresentation in their chosen field. This includes (but is not limited to) women, people of color, students and people who are otherwise perfectionists. For these people, even their greatest accomplishment can feel subpar.
One of the first things we can do when the familiar pang of failure creeps along is to acknowledge the negative emotions. It is counterintuitive to live in a denial state and tell yourself that it is not possible to shift your perspective. In doing so, we subconsciously reinforce the belief that we do not have the capacity to create work that instills a concrete sense of pride within us. In a perpetual cycle of punching oneself down, experiencing positive feelings about ourselves, in all facets of our lives, becomes a challenge.
Celebrating hard-earned wins and not allowing feelings of guilt to overshadow them is a skill that takes time to acquire. Consistently evoking positive affirmations such as “I am proud of my work,” “I belong in this space” and “I am deserving of recognition,” actively engages with neural pathways that are associated with self-worth and confidence. Like a muscle, you have to train it in order to build strength and resilience over time.
Accompanying imposter syndrome is a kind of embarrassment, where we feel anxious about being seen trying and possibly failing. We fear that we might reveal too much about ourselves, or that others will judge our specific perspective. It takes time to acquire the ability to celebrate our wins and keep feelings of guilt from overshadowing them. Honoring yourself means having pride in sharing your accomplishments. Anything you’ve created that has your authenticity sewn into it can never be a failure. Where there is passion and drive, feelings of inadequacy fail to thrive.
Jenell is a sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Jenell about her column? Email her at jt563822@ohio.edu.
