Do You Feel Like an Imposter? | Dr. Valerie Young (Co-Interviewed by Dan’s Wife, Bianca!)

Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris

The phrase imposter syndrome has increasingly crept into the culture. If you haven’t heard of it, it basically means that you feel like you’re a fraud, despite evidence to the contrary. As this term has gained more purchase in our culture, it’s also been subjected to an increasing amount of scrutiny and criticism, and also confusion. So, today we’re going to try to cut through some of that with Dr. Valerie Young, who’s been an internationally recognized expert on imposter syndrome since 1982.

Young is the co-founder of the Imposter Syndrome Institute. She wrote a book called, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It. As you’ll hear her explain, imposter syndrome is not just for women — men deal with it, too, as do many other people along the gender spectrum.

This is the second installment of our ongoing work/life series.

In this episode we talk about:

• The three things that define impostor syndrome
• Dr. Young’s contention that imposter syndrome impacts both men and women, but tends to hold women back more
• What it means to shift from impostor thinking to thinking like “a humble realist”
• Why we need to learn to reframe competence
• Whether or not impostor syndrome is limited to the professional sphere
• The impact of identity/social group
• Three tools for dealing with imposter feelings
• Whether or not imposter feelings ever go away
• What to do if you’re in a relationship with someone with imposter syndrome
• And whether there are any upsides to imposter syndrome

Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/valerie-young-574

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