So you are always feeling like the world can easily move on without you, or you don't have what it takes to survive, or perhaps you don't deserve what you have; you don’t deserve the lifestyle, the job, the friends, the opportunities, the exposure, the good things you have. Let me start by letting you know that you deserve every good thing you have. I mean every single bit of it, and nobody is coming to take it away, not now, not ever. What you are experiencing is known as imposter syndrome or impostorism.

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome or impostorism is a psychological feeling of self-doubt and incompetence despite one's education, accomplishment, exposure, and experience and persistent fear of being exposed as fake or fraudulent.

How do you know you have imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is often associated with high achievers both in academia and career. However, research suggests that about 70% of adults will experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lifetime.

Imposter syndrome most times manifests in subtle ways, sometimes, we experience it without even knowing. People who experience imposter syndrome never appreciate or reward themselves for personal accomplishments, because they always attribute achievements to luck and chance.

Although impostorism is often associated with accomplishment and career achievements, the truth is, most people feel like they are not deserving of certain things they have and own. They feel like they are not deserving or belong to a certain circle of friendship or relationships, this feeling makes people put themselves in a never-ending circle of constantly trying to please and impress people, consequently putting pressure on themselves that eventually leads to burnout.

The reality is this; nobody is actually watching you, people are busy with their lives, stop stressing yourself out. Nobody deserves what you have and own better than you.

The ripple effect of imposter syndrome is that people begin to perceive and judge you differently from who you truly are; some will say you are proud, some will say you are timid, others will say you are desperate, or you are confused, and their actions towards you will almost begin to confirm and affirm your belief that you are a fraud.

Dealing with Imposter Syndrome

You have to change your mindset towards achievements. Learn to accept that you deserve every good thing you have. Say it to yourself if you have to. You deserve what you have and where you are, you worked for it, and no matter how little the efforts you made may seem, you did it. You worked for it, Afterall, you made the decision, you took the course, you made the call, you made the application, and you took the step. I know you had support, but it still does not change the fact that you did it.

If you think you are a fraud and unfit for what you have been able to accomplish and where you are, I dare you to put a call forward to any of the person(s) you’ve worked with, or anybody who you feel you’ve defrauded as a result of not being competent or proficient enough, and it will amaze you the kind of wonderful feedback they will give.

The purpose of this article is to simply tell you who is reading it right now, that you deserve every good thing you have, and no one will take it away.