Imposter Syndrome- What is it and How to Overcome it

     When I started law school I was 20 years old. I quickly realized I was one of the youngest students there, and it showed in many ways. I was less experienced than my peers. Many have worked previous legal jobs and internships, and I was fresh out of my undergrad education. Legal experience aside they were also ahead of me on personal levels. Some students were married, engaged, had kids, and overall, had more life experience. It was very easy for me to feel "behind" compared to the other students. I began to doubt if I was ready for law school at all. I didn't feel as smart, as prepared, or as qualified as my peers. This is what's referred to as, imposter syndrome. 

What is imposter syndrome? 

    Imposter syndrome is the feeling of self-doubt and even a fear that they won't find success or won't be as successful as others. Despite one's many accomplishments, they will critically view themselves as having not done enough. Nearly everyone has experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their life (nearly 70% of the population is estimated to experience it). Whether it's at school, work, or even in social settings, it's natural to. Imposter syndrome can look like: 

• Engaging in self-doubt, fearing they can't meet previous accomplishments and focusing on past failures. Which can be accompanied by anxiety and fear around projects, causing a pattern of overworking, over-preparing, or procrastination. 
• The need to feel special or the best/need for perfection.
• A fear of failure which can accompanied by feelings of shame or humiliation when a personal expectation is not met.
• Discounting praise making it difficult to accept positive feedback.
• Guilt surrounding success or lack thereof.

Lawyers are one of the top professions to experience the dreaded imposter syndrome. This is likely because of the culture and environments of many legal professions. Lawyers feel an increased need for perfectionism compared to many other professions. After all, our reputation and license can be at stake if a mistake is made. The stakes are high. Law is a highly competitive field and our jobs consist of attacking complex legal issues and continuously having to learn the ever-changing laws. This creates a heightened sense of stress and again, the need for perfection. If the stress associated wasn't enough, positive feedback is often lacking in the legal profession, with more focus on what went wrong than what was done well, leading to increased feelings of inadequacy. With this mixing pot of factors, it's easy to develop a sense of imposter syndrome. 

How to deal with imposter syndrome

It's important to know you're not alone in these feelings. Even the most confident, experienced lawyers feel self-doubt on occasion. But these feelings are not a true reflection of your many strengths, talents, and abilities. Here are some tips for dealing with it. 

• Share your feelings- others have likely experienced this phenomenon before. Irrational feelings tend to only worsen when not discussed. 
• Separate feelings from fact- You've made it this far for a reason! Because you are capable. Recall the things you did right.
• Stop comparing yourself to others- your path won't replicate someone else's. Which is great! You are an individual and this should be celebrated. You're better/more competent than you were last year or even last week. There is no specific path to success and everyone's perception of success varies. 
• Develop a healthy response to mistakes/failures- don't beat yourself up. Mistakes are the key to growth/learning. Validate yourself and always remind yourself that your desire to be great is a good thing. It merely takes time to perfect a skill. 
• Fake it till you make it- this one may be a bit more challenging. However, self-confidence fosters a positive self-perception, helping you recognize and appreciate your skills, achievements, and competencies. This counters the negative self-talk and self-doubt associated with imposter syndrome.

Conclusion 

You will not always be perfect. You will make mistakes and you will feel self-doubt. Learning to deal with it healthily is the key to a healthier/stronger mind. Your achievements are not accidents. You've earned your place through hard work, talent, and perseverance. Every step you take, even the small ones, brings you closer to where you want to be. Embrace your journey, acknowledge your strengths, and remind yourself that it's okay to learn and grow. You are capable, you are worthy, and you have the power to overcome any self-doubt. Believe in yourself because you have already come so far, and you have so much more potential to unlock.