3 Self-Sabotaging Habits that are feeding your Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome can be all consuming and mentally exhausting when we want to feel like we’re good at what we do and that what we do is making a difference. Speaking from personal experience and from conversations I've had with other women leaders, there’s a consensus that the imposter syndrome makes us doubt ourselves, undermines our confidence and leaves us feeling insecure about our accomplishments.

That’s just it though – we’re in control of our own minds (if we’re not, then who is?), which means we can actively take steps to expose those imposter feelings for what they really are – unhelpful gremlins stemming from our own lived experiences, beliefs, environment and conditioned habits. In this article, I’m going to do a deeper dive into that last part – habits - and how they can influence how we see ourselves and our situation.

What if I told you that there are habits you might be engaging in unknowingly that are actually hindering rather than helping you shake those imposter feelings? I’m about to shine a light on three habits that may be sabotaging your efforts to overcome imposter feelings.

Habit 1: The Language You’re Using

Take a moment to listen to the words you use on repeat. Do phrases like "I can't," "They never," or "It's always," take up a good deal of your vocabulary? You might be surprised to learn that these words are reflections of our mindset and are feeding the limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves. When we constantly use limiting language, we reinforce the belief that we’re not good enough or that we’re don’t deserve our success. It’s important to remember that whatever you focus your energy on is what you’ll bring into your reality. You can change the unhelpful language you’re using by catching yourself when you say limiting phrases and actively swapping out these phrases for more positive, solution-focused language. Try using phrases like, “I can’t YET”.

Habit 2: The Action You’re Taking (or not taking)

Fear of failure or embarrassment can hold us back from taking the steps necessary to achieving our goals. We can stay in this unhelpful state of paralysis and end up procrastinating (an unhelpful habit if done on repeat) so that we stay stuck where we are, feeling unsatisfied and deep down, wishing we could take action. Our minds are wired to be on the lookout for danger and that can leave us feeling stuck and ‘not good enough’. The good news is that we can develop helpful habits that means we can take positive action. Ask yourself questions like:

What's the worst that could happen if I take one step forward?

What's the best thing that could happen?

Meaningful progress lies just beyond our comfort zone and we can always stretch our zones further. Catch those unhelpful thoughts when they show up, challenge their validity and then let them go. When we challenge our fear-based thoughts and visualise success, we’re already taking positive action to get the outcome we want.

Habit 3: Falling into the Comparison Trap

Comparison is the ultimate mental trap and a useless drain on our energy. The truth is, you'll never have the full picture of someone else's journey to make a proper comparison – nor should you need to. You can make much better use of your time and energy by staying in your own lane and focusing on taking the action that will help you get to where YOU want to be. Take inspiration from those who’ve made it to where you want to get to and learn from them, rather than shifting into comparison mode.

If you can relate to what’s been said here, then you’re probably familiar with those thoughts of self-doubt swirling around in your head, sabotaging your performance.

I’ve been there and I know what that’s like too.

But you don’t have to let it be this way and the sooner you recognise this, the sooner you can get back on track.

Conclusion

Overcoming imposter feelings means we need to be mindful of the habits that sabotage our efforts to achieve our goals. By monitoring our language, taking courageous action and resisting the urge to compare ourselves to others, we can build our confidence and resilience so that we achieve success on our own terms.

As with any change in behaviour, the more you do it, the better your chances of forming a new habit. It takes consistency and practice. If you’re feeling overwhelmed about finding the time and energy to make new habits that will help you overcome your imposter feelings, I can help you with that.

Book a complimentary Strategy Call and we’ll make a plan to help you build helpful and sustainable new habits with laser-focused action, so that you leave those imposter feelings in the rear view mirror.