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How often do you feel as if you
are faking it? Do you worry you
will be ‘found out’ as a fraud?
The imposter phenomenon has
lit up print and social media for
a couple of decades.
What is the impostor phenome-
non? Well, it is not a psycholog-
ical diagnosis. There isn’t a set
of criteria to determine if you
indeed suffer from IP. However,
there are a set of clear cut symp-
toms that each person I encoun-
ter, and well I have lived through
as well, tends to exhibit.
1. You tend to focus on the
negatively-viewed ‘failures’,
instead of the positive
accomplishments.
Battle the negative thinking,
and focus on your strengths.
The change in thoughts will
catapult you to success!
2. You think it must be rather
basic, no wonder they asked
you to do it.
Ahh, but wait for it! For
YOU it is basic. It captures
your skill set and strength,
therefore you feel such ease
in accomplishing the task.
Many a time, other’s will
compliment my ability to
build rapport quickly and
create the feeling of ease
in my office. I would think
to myself, no kidding, it
is so basic; it is a must. It
wasn’t until years later I
began to accept through
self–evaluation, it is my
strength; therefore, it comes
with ease. Whether I am in
or out of office; people feel
comfortable and loved in my
space. Even as I share, I feel
a twinge of ‘you can’t say that
out loud (residual imposter
phenomenon sneaking in).
3. The thought that if it is not
difficult it is not worth it.
Guess what?! You do not
have to make it so difficult
to define as being worth it.
The greatest business advice
I can provide; keep it simple.
4. You think that what you do
will never be good enough.
First and foremost, remove
‘never’ from your vocabulary.
Thinking in terms of abso-
lutes feeds the monster of IP.
It will only desire more neg-
ative thinking to feel a gain.
Instead, starve the monster,
and repeat after me: ‘I am
good enough.’ ‘I am amazing.’
This is all in YOUR control.
5. You permit your mind to
focus on the fear, rather than
imagine the success.
How often does anxiety
over-come you, or negative
thoughts harm your desire
to stay motivated? You have
a choice. Take the time to
imagine success. I want you
to picture accepting the No-
bel Peace Prize, or like my-
self, I picture myself speak-
Are you an
Imposter?
By Kristie Knights, LPC
SOAR TO SUCCESS
/
S
eptember
2016
/
Personal Growth Strategies