#imposter-syndrome

#imposter-syndrome

"I just live in this constant state of imposter syndrome," Virgin media TV presenter, author and influencer Eric Roberts says. "And I have done for the last couple of years. I'm pinching myself constantly."

Looking back on my own decades in life-student, waiter, pilot, FBI agent, graduate student, author, speaker-I can honestly say I've felt like an imposter at nearly every stage. From my first solo flight in a Cessna 152 at 17 to my first arrest of human traffickers in the Sonoran Desert, miles from any help, I often wondered, Do I belong here? Am I ready? Even as I rose through the ranks, I sometimes asked myself: Did I earn this, or am I fooling everyone?

I've been teaching yoga for more than eight years, and practicing for many more. I teach strong, fast-paced formats as well as restorative ones. My classes are consistently full, and I know my students leave feeling stronger, challenged, and centered. But after a recent yoga teaching evaluation at a chain yoga studio, I walked out feeling the opposite: not strong, not capable, not enough.

Imposter syndrome is a feeling that stops many of us, particularly women, in our tracks. It keeps many of us from getting into the room where we would have the chance to fail.

That process really messed with my head. But I did it. I got the visa, got the awards, worked with big clients, built a studio and hired a team.

Anderson noted, "I reminded myself that curiosity is more powerful than self-doubt. Instead of trying to impress anyone, I approached team leaders and engaged them in meaningful conversations."

Stepping into the CEO spot is a psychological event that can trigger anxiety and confusion, as new leaders grapple with their shifting identity and responsibilities.