How to internalize your success and beat imposter syndrome once and for all

It’s to overcome imposterism by retraining your thinking and internalizing your successes—without becoming big-headed. Here’s how.

Rewrite misconceptions about confidence

Keep in mind that there’s a big difference between healthy confidence and overconfidence. Those with healthy confidence are not only secure in their judgments and strengths, but they can also show humility and admit their weaknesses. Overconfident people, on the other hand, overestimate their competence and think they can excel in areas in which they have no knowledge. But perhaps you have thought that being hard on yourself is what keeps you striving higher. Research shows that self-criticism is a poor strategy. When used excessively, it is consistently associated with less motivation, reduced self-control, and more procrastination.

Shift your explanatory style

In the late 1990s, psychologists Gregory Buchanan and Martin Seligman coined the term “explanatory style” to describe the way people interpret events that happen to them. You can train yourself to have a more optimistic explanatory style, which is shown to lead to greater happiness, motivation, and productivity. This style can help you to interpret positive events that happen to you as a result of internal factors, such as your inherent capabilities or effort, and is more long-lasting. You can also give yourself more credit for moments of strengths that grow your resilience and resourcefulness by broadening your definition of success.

Accept compliments

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When someone applauds your work, are you quick to brush off their praise and say, “Oh, it was nothing”? When you experience imposter syndrome, praise can create cognitive dissonance. Because positive feedback about your capabilities doesn’t fit into your current self-image, you reject it. The next time someone gives you a compliment, try to receive it graciously. Resist the urge to explain away your successes or to rattle off a string of justifications as to why your accomplishment is no big deal. Instead, keep your response short and simple, such as, “Thank you, I’m so glad you noticed” or, “I appreciate that.”