Combatting Imposter Syndrome

Appreciating your unique gifts can help you stop feeling like a fraud.

Reviewed by Davia Sills

Key points

• Imposter syndrome can hold people back because they feel inadequate.
• Individuals likely have unique gifts that they have been underestimating.
• Knowing one's limitations and appreciating one's special talents can help one combat self-doubt.

Carol started seeing me during her medical residency because of persistent feelings of anxiety and depression related to experiences at work. She didn’t feel as capable as her colleagues, who were more academically oriented. They seemed to be able to read and digest the medical literature much more efficiently. She received the lowest scores on exams and struggled to answer questions put to her by attending physicians. She was frequently tearful in session as she lamented her inadequacy and shared her fears that she wasn’t competent enough to practice medicine.

Then, a discussion with an attending physician shifted her perception dramatically. He acknowledged her academic deficits but pointed out a key strength—she got along well with everyone, including the nurses.

“You may struggle to learn by reading,” he told her. “But there are other ways to learn. Your colleagues will always be willing to teach you things you don’t know—and you will be open to being taught. This is another way to become a good doctor.”

Carol came to value the wisdom in his perspective. Her people skills really were her superpower, and these gave her another avenue for learning, even though she also had areas of weakness.

Her ability to be a team player didn't merely compensate for her academic lackluster. It actually made her a more effective doctor in many ways. Appreciating this truth helped her combat crippling imposter syndrome, which had undermined her confidence.

In 1978, psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes published a paper entitled “The Imposter Phenomenon in High-Achieving Women.” Since that time, their observation that bright, competent women often feel as if they are frauds has entered mainstream culture, where it has become known as “imposter syndrome.” Although men can suffer from feeling like an imposter as well, the phenomenon is associated mainly with women—especially successful and talented women.

Imposter syndrome may be common, but it doesn’t have to stop us in our tracks. Recognizing it for what it is helps us cut it down to size, allowing us to move forward even amid doubt and discomfort. Carol’s battle with imposter syndrome was eased by a realistic appraisal of her strengths and weaknesses that allowed her to develop an appreciation for her unique gifts.

A French legend from the Middle Ages provides another perspective that helps elucidate the archetypal aspects of Carol's struggle.

Our Lady’s Acrobat
A wandering minstrel grows weary of life on the road and enters a religious order. Once he has taken his vows, however, he becomes desperately unhappy. The other brothers know how to pray, how to chant, and how to read. He doesn’t know any of these things and feels wretched as a result. Will they kick him out of the order if they find out? More importantly, he feels profoundly unworthy knowing that he only eats food and doesn’t contribute anything to the community.
In the depths of his despair, he finds his way to a small chapel with a statue of the Virgin Mary. There, he decides to worship in the only way he can—by performing as an acrobat. In secret, he gives the performance of his life. He continues to do so every day as a private devotion. Eventually, he is rewarded by the appearance of Mary herself, accompanied by a host of angels. His contribution is at last seen and valued by the religious community.

Ancient stories such as this one reveal unconscious processes and patterns when viewed psychologically. If we consider this story symbolically, it tells us something helpful and reassuring about coming to terms with one’s limitations—and accepting one’s gifts, however humble they seem.

The Virgin Mary symbolizes that which is sacred—those values, principles, and attitudes that allow us to be in relation to something larger than ego. We might think of it as life’s spiritual dimension that is woven through our personal and professional life. It has a claim on us—we owe it our attention and reverence. We honor it whenever we meet life’s challenges with humility, integrity, and our best effort.

The story lets us know that there may be ways of paying tribute to this principle that are “correct” or more highly valued. If we can’t perform in this way, we may feel unworthy—like an imposter. But when we bring our authentic, unique gifts to life’s challenges, the results can be miraculous.

Carol’s talents differed from those of her colleagues, and yet there was a place for them. With this insight, she could quiet the inner voice that left her feeling inadequate and full of doubt.

Regardless of the context, there is always room for a range of different talents. The ones that you bring to the table are likely just what the situation needs.

The case material included here is a composite.