Why You Are Not an Imposter: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is something nearly every law student or aspiring lawyer will face at some point. You may feel like a fraud, unable to believe that your success is deserved or earned through your efforts and skills. This feeling of inadequacy is real but you are not an imposter.

I have regularly heard students at university or events express this feeling of being out of place. However, when I see and hear about all of their achievements it is clear that they have earned every bit of success. Imposter syndrome doesn’t reflect your true abilities or the value you bring to the table.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Oxford Languages and Google defines imposter syndrome as “the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.” It’s the feeling that despite working hard, you do not truly belong or that your success is unjustified. Imposter syndrome can be caused from all sorts of internal and external factors such as personality, mental health, upbringing and being different from those around you or you see online. Comparison really is the thief of joy.

The Different Types of Imposter Syndrome

The internationally recognised expert on imposter syndrome, Valerie Young, says there are five forms of imposter syndrome:

1. Perfectionist – you may hold yourself to extremely high standards and if you fall short of this perfection you feel as though you have failed.
2. Superhuman – you may overload yourself with multiple roles and responsibilities with the aim to be a master in every single thing you take on. In turn, if you fail at one of your extra roles or feel as though you cannot balance something, you feel like a failure.
3. Natural genius – you may believe that you should naturally be able to understand something very quickly and cannot tolerate failure even if you must make mistakes to learn and grow.
4. Soloist – you may believe that figuring out something on your own is the only way to succeed. Asking someone for help or collaboration is not an option since it does not count as a win.
5. Expert – you may feel as though you must be extremely knowledgeable in a certain area before you pursue a new task. You need to be an expert and know everything there is to know and fear situations where you may come across as lacking knowledge.

You might find that you identify with one of these forms or you may fit into a combination of all five. Regardless, understanding these forms of imposter syndrome can provide clarity and help you find your path to overcoming it.

Steps to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome takes away chances from extraordinary people who are more than capable. The continuous self-doubt and constant comparison makes people not reach for goals out of fear that they do not belong and will eventually fail. That is why is so important to not just pretend these feelings do not exist and take proactive steps to believe you belong and that you can succeed.

Talk to Others:
One of the most important things you can do is talk to others. Whether it’s friends who are at the same point in their journey or family members who are at different stages of life, discussing your feelings can help normalise the experience. So many people have experienced imposter syndrome at some point, including Michelle Obama! Knowing that you are not alone can make a huge difference.

Acknowledge All Your Wins:
Imposter syndrome often makes it easy to dismiss your achievements, thinking that you “had to” accomplish them. But it’s crucial to take a step back and reflect on how much you’ve achieved. You must recognise your efforts, no matter how small they seem to you. You have worked hard to get where you are and that deserves acknowledgment. Personally, I write down in the back of my planner all sorts of achievements that I can look back at and remind myself how far I have come.

You Put Yourself in the Room:
Another common aspect of imposter syndrome is the belief that you “got lucky” or don’t truly deserve to be where you are. The reality is, you got yourself here. You have put in the work and the effort to achieve your goals. You belong in any room you find yourself in. Remind yourself of that truth every time you doubt your place.

You Belong and You Will Succeed

Ultimately, you are the only person who will be able to convince yourself that you deserve to do well and are more than capable of achieving great things. However, I hope this has given you an insight into how relatable imposter syndrome really is and highlighted a few small ways you can help break this negative mindset.

Sources

https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/imposter-syndrome-causes-types-and-coping-tips

https://impostorsyndrome.com/about-the-book/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46434147

Article written by Caity Kelly, University of Bristol Undergraduate LLB