Dealing With The Imposter Syndrome 

The first time I was on radio, I found it hard to come to terms with it. While a lot of people in my circle were celebrating it as such a big feat, I was struggling to see it as such. I had gotten the invite through someone who also worked at the radio station.

By obvious standards, I was qualified to be on that show. But every time I thought of seeing it as a feat, I’d tell myself it wasn’t worth celebrating because I hadn’t STRUGGLED to get it. I felt that I wouldn’t have been able to go on air if my friend hadn’t been there.

Even after my time on air, I constantly felt like a fraud. What if I wasn’t actually as smart as I thought? What if there was really nothing special about me? What if this was just luck? I literally reduced the effect of this “achievement”.

Many of us face imposter syndrome. You feel like you’re fake. You feel like someone is going to reveal you as the fraud you are. You attribute the achievements to bare luck. You think what you have done is nothing special and that anybody can do it. It doesn’t matter how much you know, or can do, or have done. You always keep feeling like you’re not as good as people think you are. If you suffer imposter syndrome, here are a few things that help me:

1. That you feel in some kind of way does not mean that that’s true. Somewhere in your mind, you know you deserve that win. Even if it feels like you do not, realise that it doesn’t mean you don’t.

2. You’re unique. And even if everyone else is getting it done, it does not stop it from being an achievement for you.

3. Talk about it. Speaking with others allows them to affirm you and well, a problem they say…

4. Positive affirmations. I talk to myself a lot and I have to constantly remind myself of how much a blessing I am to myself and to other people. Positive self-talk works over time.

5. You’re a work in progress. You’ll keep getting better but it doesn’t reduce the fact that you are doing well right now.

-Orifunke Lawal