Think back to your first few days starting your current job. You were probably a bit nervous and unsure of yourself. You spend the better part of your day looking over your shoulder, expecting someone to come along and tell you there’s been a horrible mistake. You don’t belong.
But after a few days or weeks, you start to get the hang of the routine, and your self-confidence blossoms. You’re finding your groove, and the new job anxiety goes away. You know you’ve got what it takes to do this.
What if that doesn’t happen? What if, no matter how hard you work or what you accomplish, you still feel you don’t fit in?
If that sounds painfully familiar, you’re not alone. You’re suffering from a case of imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome can happen to anyone, from a new hire fresh out of college to a seasoned entrepreneur at the pinnacle of success. The percentage varies between occupations, but studies show that up to 82% of workers experience imposter syndrome at least once in their careers.
The good news is you can overcome your self-doubt. By recognizing your insecurity for what it is and developing coping mechanisms, such as daily affirmations, imposter syndrome doesn’t have to hold you back.
It’s time to change your mindset, and you can start by building your self-confidence.
What’s imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome roots in your worst fears about yourself. It tells you that no matter how skilled you are or how you’ve excelled in the past, you aren’t good enough for your current opportunity.
Imposter syndrome generally occurs when you transition to a new role. It’s usually associated with professional situations, but this self-sabotaging syndrome can strike anyone, including high-performing students and new parents.
The pressure to succeed and a lack of experience can leave you feeling inadequate and questioning your abilities, especially if you espoused the “fake it until you make it” philosophy to get the job in the first place.
While not considered a mental illness, the constant effects of doubt, in the form of negative thoughts, self-pity, frustration, and ongoing stress can harm your well-being, ultimately leading to depression or anxiety.
If you experience emotional distress or find it hard for you to perform day-to-day tasks due to your imposter syndrome, therapy or working with a coach can help you find ways to talk through your anxiety. Consider contacting a mental health professional to work through any underlying stressors causing this.
It looks different depending on your situation, but you may be dealing with a serious case of imposter syndrome if you find yourself:
- Attributing success to luck or outside forces due to your locus of control
- Struggling to feel agency for your decisions
- Unable to realistically assess your skills
- Obsessing over the slightest fault in your performance
- Constantly worried you can’t live up to other's expectations
- Taking steps to sabotage your own success
Thankfully, there are many effective strategies for dealing with the cycle of self-doubt created by imposter syndrome. One of them is to make use of daily affirmations to reframe your thoughts and prevent your insecurity from getting the better of you.
The power of positive affirmations
Positive affirmations are simple statements that draw attention to your strengths and qualities. These declarations refocus your perspective from your anxiety, which might tell you things ranging from “I’m not qualified for this job” to reassuring thoughts “I have the skills necessary to succeed in this role.”
Affirmations are an effective way to deal with imposter syndrome because they leverage the power of neuroplasticity to shift your thought patterns. Your brain can’t always differentiate between an actual event and one you imagine.
Creating a mental image of yourself performing a task, like giving a difficult presentation in a client meeting, for example, triggers the same areas of your brain that would be active if you were taking the leap in reality.
This means that repeating positive statements about yourself active your brain’s reward center, which, with time, reshapes your thought patterns. Repetition will convince your subconscious mind to internalize supportive messages and positive thinking, banishing automatic negative thoughts and self-doubt and teaching you to control your mind.
To work effectively, affirmations should accurately reflect your abilities and principles. Convincing yourself that you’re perfect isn’t the point of the practice. You need to remind yourself that you’re good enough and everything you do, at this moment, has value. Using affirmations based on your core personal values has also demonstrated an ability to improve performance.
To ensure the effectiveness of your affirmations, you should:
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Customize your messages to reflect your situation: Using a stock affirmation that resonates with you is perfectly fine, but the most potent are those you’ve tailored to counter specific negative messages.
For example, if your self-sabotaging tendencies tell you that you reached your sales target by luck, create a new story challenging imposter syndrome for yourself by saying: “I create my own luck with my skills and positive attitude.”
Repeat this statement every time you feel inadequate. Don’t be afraid to get creative and have some fun with your self-encouragement.
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Be realistic: Affirmations won't work for you if they don’t contain a grain of truth. Focus your statements on specific traits and achievable goals. Unrealistic messages like “I’ll always be happy” border on toxic positivity.
They aren’t helpful because they negate normal, understandable feelings that you need to process. Instead, keeping affirmations neutral and specific, like: “I can adapt to change,” is more productive.
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Practice them daily: You won’t be able to change your mindset overnight. Turn your affirmations into daily mantras and add them to your routine until the thought process becomes a habit.
In the case of imposter syndrome, research shows that affirmations can help boost your self-esteem and ease your anxiety by:
25 positive affirmations to overcome imposter syndrome
Here are a few positive affirmations for imposter syndrome you can customize to your situation. Use them to create powerful messages that tune out negative self-talk, redirect your thoughts, and bolster your self-confidence.
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“I am a strong and capable person.”
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“I trust myself to make good decisions.”
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“The point of life is balance, not perfection.”
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“I’m allowed to take up space.”
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“I am prepared to face any challenge that comes my way.”
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“I am worthy of my achievements.”
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“My life is full of amazing opportunities that are ready for me to step into. ”
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“I am knowledgeable about what I am building and will continue to learn and to improve.”
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“I am working to become a better [insert your role, whether professional or personal].”
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“I am as good as people say I am.”
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“My life is a gift and I appreciate everything I have.”
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“I am ready to learn the lessons that life has to offer.”
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“I have the power to create change.”
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“I lead my day with purpose, passion, and powerful action. ”
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“My strengths and resources will help me find a way.”
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“I am allowed to make mistakes.”
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“I let go of all that no longer serves me.”
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“I am a good learner.”
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“My accomplishments are valid.”
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“I learn from my mistakes.”
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“To make small steps toward big goals is progress. ”
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“I am an asset to my team and organization.”
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“I am exactly where I need to be today.”
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“I will use constructive criticism to make myself better.”
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“My abilities are imperfectly perfect.”
How to use affirmations in your daily life?
Positive affirmations don’t work overnight. Manifesting these changes in your life requires conscious thought and consistent effort. Here are some simple ways of adding the practice to your daily routine:
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Create reminders: Write your affirmations on sticky notes and post them throughout your home to remind you to repeat them. Stick them on your fridge, the bathroom mirror, the work keyboard or monitor, or the bedside lamp. You can even make the affirmation your phone or computer wallpaper. It doesn’t matter where so long as you see them regularly.
Ready to trust yourself?
Imposter syndrome is a thief. It steals away your self-esteem, sense of accomplishment, and willingness to take risks, replacing them with anxiety, limiting beliefs, and fear about what’s next.
Challenging your self-sabotaging habits with positive affirmations can help you move forward, but they won’t work overnight. If you’re reluctant because positive affirmations feel self-indulgent, consider them an aspect of your self-care routine.
Talk to yourself as you would your best friend — with all the self-compassion and encouragement you can muster. Be gentle, and your own words will help you stride into the future with optimism.
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