Impostor syndrome

Impostor syndrome is the internal belief that you don’t deserve your achievements, even when you know they’re the result of your hard work and effort. People with impostor syndrome tend to attribute their success to luck or external circumstances. You’ll often hear them say things like “I just got lucky.” This mindset is frequently accompanied by anxiety, chronic self-doubt, and a distorted self-image, forming the basis of an unhealthy, diminished self-esteem.

The ELLE O’zbekiston editorial team explores why impostor syndrome is widespread among women and how to begin embracing the value of your accomplishments.

Doubt as a sign of the times

Impostor syndrome has become one of the defining psychological struggles of the 21st century. This is largely due to the rise of constant comparison and a cultural obsession with achievement. Fierce competition and the cult of productivity only amplify self-doubt, even among the most competent professionals. The result is straightforward – emotional burnout, fear of failure, and an inability to enjoy one’s own success. In a world where likes and status often measure worth, the feeling of "not being enough" has become a truly global phenomenon.

Why does this affect women more?

Women are statistically more likely to experience impostor syndrome than men. This stems from deep-rooted social and cultural norms. For centuries, society has questioned women’s right to success, authority, and leadership. Only in the past hundred years have we seen any real shift in this paradigm. From a young age, girls are taught to be “good,” even “convenient.” They’re often encouraged toward domestic skills, while boys are told they’re naturally gifted in science and math. These early messages shape a belief system: even when a woman achieves something remarkable, she may still feel she just happened to be “in the right place at the right time,” not that she earned it through persistence and effort.

According to a global KPMG study conducted in 2020, 75% of women in leadership roles reported experiencing impostor syndrome at some point in their careers. The phenomenon often intensifies when a woman takes on a new position and feels pressured to prove her competence, sometimes without room for error. She may feel she has to demonstrate not only that she deserves the role, but that she can keep up with or outperform male colleagues, especially in environments where gender-based stereotypes persist. These dynamics create a feedback loop of self-doubt that’s nearly impossible to escape without support and conscious inner work.

Source: Leeloo The First, pexels

How to overcome impostor syndrome?

It’s important to understand that impostor syndrome is not just a passing emotion – it’s a chronic mental pattern that can quietly develop over many years. Overcoming it and the feeling of anxiety requires patience and a willingness to do the work.

Here are some practical steps to help you move past impostor syndrome:

1. Acknowledge it exists
   Recognize that these feelings are not objective truths but manifestations of anxiety and fear.
2. Track your inner critic
   Notice when you’re minimizing your efforts, and try to shift your inner dialogue to something more supportive.
3. Talk about your feelings
   Share your feelings with friends, mentors, or coworkers. Chances are, you’re not alone in your anxiety, and naming it helps you disarm it.
4. Stop comparing
   Comparison is the enemy of growth. Everyone’s path is different, and confidence on the outside doesn’t always reflect reality.
5. Let yourself be in progress
   Mistakes and doubts are part of evolving. You don’t have to be flawless to be worthy or competent.
6. Work on self-acceptance
   Self-acceptance means embracing yourself as a whole, not just your strengths, but your flaws, your failures, and everything in between. You can learn more about cultivating self-acceptance in this article.
7. Consider professional help
   Working with a qualified therapist or coach can help uncover the root causes of your self-doubt and strengthen your self-esteem in lasting ways.

Source: Nataliya Vaitkevich, pexels