The impostor syndrome

Have you heard about this syndrome? The impostor syndrome is very common with successful and talented people who at some point in their lives have experienced this self doubt that sometimes can make them stop pursuing their dreams and goals. But why? I will explain you a bit more,

Definition:

Impostor Syndrome is an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. People who suffer from this syndrome often feel like frauds, attributing their success to luck or error rather than their abilities and effort. Impostor Syndrome can affect anyone, regardless of their level of success or experience. From students and professionals to artists and entrepreneurs, we can all face it at some point in our lives.

Importance:

It especially strikes when you are a minority and have fewer opportunities to share your feelings with others. If you are a migrant living in another country, you have probably experienced that despite having the experience and skills to develop professionally, cultural clashes and lack of representation often lead you to feel Impostor Syndrome, unable to compete at the same level as locals. Here, the support and network of people around you play a big role. While many people migrate with family or friends, many others usually migrate alone and have to recreate these alliances and social networks.

Signs and Symptoms:

Some common signs include constantly doubting yourself, attributing your success to external factors, fear of being discovered as a fraud, and the inability to accept compliments.

Many public figures have spoken openly about their struggles with Impostor Syndrome. For example, Maya Angelou and Albert Einstein have confessed to feeling like impostors despite their achievements.

Personal Experience:

I want to share my personal experience when I moved to Australia. First, I faced the struggle of the language, and then the culture. As a Mexican, my way of greeting was more friendly, with a handshake and a kiss on the cheek. In contrast, in Australia, I found that I had to be less expressive and less emotional, greeting only with a verbal "hello, nice to meet you," without extending a handshake or showing any emotion. It was very difficult, but I managed to control my hands, feeling very awkward. Later, I was pointed out for moving my hands a lot when talking and for laughing if something was funny to me. I even remember once when something made me laugh so hard that I burst out laughing, while the people around me were very annoyed, even angry with me for not being able to control my emotions.

Daily experiences like this, with small gestures that represented my background but were not part of the new culture where I was living, created Impostor Syndrome in me over the years. Not even my name was able to remain unchanged due to the difficulty Australians had in pronouncing it. I had to change from Eleane to Ellie.

Once I tried to regain the confidence lost over the years, I could see clearly how badly I was affected. Despite the self-doubt and lack of understanding of what was happening to me, I finally found information that helped me a lot in putting all the ideas together and finding confidence in myself.

Strategies to Overcome Impostor Syndrome:

1. Recognize and Accept: The first step is to recognize and accept that you are experiencing Impostor Syndrome. Talking openly about it can help put things in perspective. You must find a safe space with family or friends where you can talk about it and find the support needed to finish with these thoughts and continue achieving what you want.

2. Change Your Way of Thinking: Instead of focusing on your failures, concentrate on your achievements and the skills you possess.

3. Seek Support: Talk to mentors, colleagues, or trusted friends. Often, they can offer a different perspective and reassure you.

4. Keep a Record of Your Achievements: Review this record when you start to feel hesitant.

5. Accept Mistakes: Understand that making mistakes is part of learning and growth. No one is perfect.

6. Invest in Your Development: Investing in your personal and professional development can help you feel more competent and confident in your abilities. Personal brand workshops like the ones we offer can be a good option to improve your confidence and self-esteem.

Conclusion:

Remember that you are not alone in this struggle. We all face doubts at some point, but it’s important not to let those doubts define you. I hope this blog can bring some light to your life and help you take the first step to find a solution and live happily with your life decisions.

Hope to catch up with you soon, and don't forget to subscribe to our waiting list to be part of the modeling classes where you can build your personal brand and empower yourself to achieve your personal goals.

See you soon,

Eleane xx