Imposter Syndrome: The Reasons You Feel Underserving of Success

Imposter Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon and term used to describe the feelings of self-doubt and insecurity that can accompany success. Despite evidence to the contrary, including skills and hard work, people with imposter syndrome often feel they are unqualified or undeserving of their accomplishments. This can lead to a fear of being exposed as a fraud.

What Causes Imposter Syndrome?

Several factors can contribute to imposter syndrome, including:

• Struggles with self-efficacy: People with imposter syndrome often have difficulty believing in their own abilities. This may be due to growing up in a competitive environment where they were constantly compared to others or being told that they weren't good enough. As a result, they don't trust their own judgment and instead second-guess themselves constantly. 

• Perfectionism: Many people with imposter syndrome are perfectionists. They believe that if they can do things perfectly, they'll be able to prove that they're not frauds. Of course, this is an impossible standard to live up to and only leads to frustration and disappointment. 

• Neuroticism: People who tend to be anxious, insecure, and sensitive are also more likely to suffer from imposter syndrome. This is because they're more likely to dwell on their mistakes and magnify them out of proportion.

How Therapy Can Help

Imposter syndrome is a real problem that can majorly impact your life. If left unchecked, it can negatively affect your mental health and prevent you from reaching your full potential in any area of your life. One's fears of achieving success or making a mistake can make it hard to enjoy their successes and pursue new opportunities.

If you're feeling like an imposter, don't despair—you're not alone. Many high-achieving people suffer from impostor syndrome at some point in their lives.

Therapy is a tremendously helpful resource for individuals struggling with imposter syndrome. It can help by exploring the underlying causes of your impostorism and teaching healthy ways to cope with your feelings and triggers.

Is Career Coaching Right for Me?

Are you feeling stuck in your career? Do you want to find more fulfillment or take the next step up the ladder? You're not alone. Many people struggle with finding their place in the professional world, and career coaching can be invaluable in helping them get there.

Career coaching is professional development that helps individuals reach their goals and succeed professionally. A career coach will help you to identify your unique strengths and weaknesses, assess your current skill set and experience, create actionable plans, develop strategies to achieve goals, provide advice on job searching and networking, and much more.

The goal of a career coach is ultimately to help you become the best version of yourself so that you can reach your full potential professionally.

Who Is Career Coaching For?

Career coaching is for anyone looking to make a change in their professional life or find greater purpose in their current job. It's especially beneficial if you feel you've hit a roadblock or need help clarifying where to go. It doesn't matter how long you've been working—a few months or decades—career coaching can provide useful guidance for everyone, from entry-level employees to seasoned professionals.

The Difference Between Talk Therapy & Coaching

It's important to note that while they may appear similar on the surface, talk therapy and career coaching are very different practices. Talk therapy focuses primarily on processing emotions, while coaching focuses on achieving goals; instead of talking through feelings, sessions will involve setting actionable plans and creating strategies to reach objectives.

Suppose underlying issues are getting in the way of your professional success or happiness. In that case, you may benefit from seeking mental health care instead of or alongside coaching.

However, if you feel your professional life is the biggest source of dissatisfaction in your life, career coaching may be right for you. Regardless of where you currently find yourself professionally speaking, there's boundless potential for growth with the help of a qualified career coach.