Here are three steps to put Imposter Syndrome in its place. To do this, let’s take a page from the NLP world (NLP is short for Neuro Linguistic Programming). We’ll come back to NLP at the end.
First, it’s important to recognize that Imposter Syndrome isn’t a problem of logic. Quite the contrary, it’s an illogical feeling or response going on in your mind. Oftentimes, this is your subconscious mind just trying to keep you safe from something it perceives as a potential threat.
Recognizing Imposter Syndrome as something illogical is an important first step. You may think, logically, that you shouldn’t be having these sorts of thoughts. After all, you know in your head that you belong. You might even have the pedigree and the training to prove it – all highly logical. However, this seldom helps when those feelings of being a fraud or a phony are ringing like an alarm bell in your head. This is because using logic is often the wrong tool for the job.
The reason for this is because the “feeling” part of the brain is part of the Limbic system, sometimes called the mid-brain. The cognitive, logical part of the brain is the neocortical part. It’s this upper part of the brain which handles executive functions like thinking and calculating. The logical “thinking” brain and the Limbic “feeling” brain are two different systems.
Understanding these two systems leads us to the second step in the process. By acknowledging this isn’t a problem of “logic” you can address these feelings in the way they need to be addressed. To do this, we need to address this subconscious part of your brain to put these thoughts in the rear-view mirror.
Let’s say you’re about to get up and speak in front of 500 people at a conference, and here comes “Imposter Syndrome” unpacking her bags in your hotel room like an unwelcome in-law. As a public speaker, I know this feeling all too well.
Thoughts of “who am I to be speaking to these people” or “they’re going to find out I’m a phony” fill my head. It’s important to acknowledge these thoughts and write them down. By writing them down, I’m now able to address them and write down their opposites.
In writing their opposites, “Who am I to be speaking to these people” becomes “I am highly competent in my field, and these people are eager to hear the important things I have to say.”
Similarly, “They’re going to find out I’m a phony” becomes “I belong in this crowd, I am authentic and bring a unique perspective to solving problems and they will very much appreciate my perspective.”
I know this is a bit on the squishy side, but stay with me. This works, but you have to follow through. This sets us up for the most important part, Step 3.
In this last step, you record those “opposite” responses in your own powerful voice on a digital recorder app on your phone and play them in a loop. Put in your earphones and go for a walk or better yet, close your eyes and meditate or take a short nap. It’s powerful and best of all, it really works. Many times in just one or two 20-minute sessions.
There is a lot of brain science that backs up this practice. Do your own research on NLP if you like. Just know this can be a powerful tool in your toolbox when you’re ready to evict Imposter Syndrome from your Life.
