What's the Deal With Imposter Syndrome?

“I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.” ~ Maya Angelou

Have you ever felt like a complete fraud or like you were going to be “found out”? I can’t even count the number of times I have felt like a total imposter in my life—both personally and professionally. From being admitted to grad school to being offered various professional roles while in the corporate world, I often heard that (loud) voice in the back of my head that said something along the lines of: When they find out who I really am, they will surely send me packing. During my first few years of teaching yoga and meditation, I was pretty convinced that someone paid the students to be in class or that they lost some sort of bet and had to be there because of it. Combine all this with a not-so healthy side of perfectionism and you may have yourself a problem.

I found this voice popping up not too long ago upon being asked to teach high school students across the globe entrepreneurship and venture creation through Columbia University's Business School. When my business professor and mentor from graduate school asked me to teach, my initial thoughts were: You can't possibly mean me, right? In all honesty, I wanted to say "no, thank you" and run in the opposite direction.

Turns out what is called “imposter syndrome” is actually more common than you think. The syndrome, also know as impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome, describes people who, despite their successes, fail to internalize their accomplishments and have persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud or impostor. And while it can certainly feel pretty crappy or debilitating while in the throes of it, realizing you’re not alone, acknowledging it, talking about it, and mindfulness meditation can help.

A Meditation for Imposter Syndrome

In certain meditation techniques we are taught to observe our thoughts without judgement or attachment. While much easier said than done, when we practice becoming the observer of our thoughts, we can loosen the grip of the monkey mind and allow in more space between the thoughts. Here’s a short mindfulness meditation from teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn that I’ve been practicing when the imposter syndrome beast decides to rear its ugly head.

Do you experience Imposter Syndrome and what do you do when you recognize it?