Understanding Imposter Syndrome

What is Imposter Syndrome?

According to Healthline, imposter syndrome involves feelings of self-doubt and personal incompetence that persist despite your education, experience, and accomplishments.

Those struggling with imposter syndrome feel like a phony—as though at any moment they are going to be found out as a fraud. They feel like they don't belong where they are. It can affect anyone no matter their social status, work background, skill level, or degree of expertise.

Some of the common signs of imposter syndrome include (www.verywellmind.com):

An inability to realistically assess competence and skills.
Attributing success to external factors.
Berating performance.
Overachieving
Fear won't live up to expectations
Sabotaging own success.
Setting very challenging goals and feeling disappointed when falling short.
Self-doubt.

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It’s estimated that 25 to 30 percent of high achievers may suffer from imposter syndrome. Around 70 percent of adults may experience impostorism at least once in their lifetime, research suggests (www.psychologytoday.com).

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Managing Imposter Syndrome

Binaural Beats

Binaural beats are claimed to induce the same mental state associated with a meditation practice, but much more quickly. In effect, binaural beats are said to:

reduce anxiety
increase focus and concentration
lower stress
increase relaxation
foster positive moods
promote creativity
help manage pain

Binaural beats between 1 and 30 Hz are alleged to create the same brainwave pattern that one would experience during meditation. When you listen to a sound with a certain frequency, your brain waves will synchronize with that frequency. The theory is that binaural beats can help create the frequency needed for your brain to create the same waves commonly experienced during a meditation practice. The use of binaural beats in this way is sometimes called brainwave entrainment technology (HealthLine). Learn more.

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Meditations

Meditation is the practice of calming the mind and tuning down the number of random thoughts that pass through it. A regular meditation practice has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, slow down the rate of brain aging and memory loss, promote emotional health, and lengthen attention span. Practicing meditation regularly can be quite difficult, so people have looked to technology for help (Heartfullness.org). Learn more.