How Athletes Can Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Athletes face many mindset challenges. Among them is imposter syndrome. It’s been reported that up to 82% of people will be affected by it. Athletes can overcome imposter syndrome with a few different techniques.

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon that deeply affects your confidence. It’s characterized by feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy over the fear that you’re a fraud and not deserving of your success. There could be many reasons why you struggle with this. For example, maybe as an athlete you’ve been training your whole life to always do more and get better in order to stay competitive. For some people, that may be positive motivation, but for others, it can shake their confidence with the feeling that they’re never enough.

Sings of athlete imposter syndrome may include thoughts like:

• I’m not as good as people say I am.
• Someone is going to find out that I’m not as talented or smart as they think I am.
• I’m really only good at one thing and I’m afraid people are going to find that out.
• If I make a mistake, they’ll find out I’m not really that good or that smart.
• I don’t deserve the success that I have achieved.
• My success is pure luck.
• I haven’t done enough to prove to myself that I deserve the success that I have achieved.

Way to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Change your focus by giving yourself some credit. If you’re focused on what you haven’t done or what you feel you don’t deserve, your emotions will match that. Instead, write down all of your accomplishments, no matter how big or how small. Focus on all of the things that you have done. These are facts and things that only you are responsible for because only you could have taken the action. Even if you thought you couldn’t do something or someone told you couldn’t do it, once you achieve it, it’s a fact in your own history book. Give yourself some credit and build up your confidence.

Be mindful of your body language. The simple act of sitting or standing up straight, making eye contact, and keeping your chin up can help you feel more confident. When you hold that pose, you are assuming the role of a confident individual. You belong where you are.

Retrain your brain with affirmations. Affirmations can help you overcome imposter syndrome because you have the ability to train your brain to switch from negative thought habits to positive thought habits. Repetition is key. Try writing your affirmations down several times a day for a couple of weeks. You may also want to write the statements down and place them where you can see them when you wake up, go to sleep, and throughout the day.

Write about it. Journaling is a powerful tool to help you release negative emotions and gain clarity. A few good starter topics are:

• What are some things you achieved that seemed hard or even impossible?
• Write a letter to your inner critic, how it makes you feel, and what you want instead.
• Write about how you are enough and you are already a complete person.
• Where did your doubts and insecurities originate? Write about the times in your life when you remember feeling self-doubt or inadequate. Then, write about how that is showing up in your life today and how you can move forward.

Acknowledge your path. I believe that you’re right where you’re supposed to be. Both successes and challenges are part of the journey. Try accepting that you are where are you meant to be and wherever you go, you’ll be okay.

Accept that mistakes are helpful. Mistakes aren’t bad. They may bruise your ego, but they are opportunities to learn and improve. When you make a mistake, it doesn’t make you undeserving or less valuable. You can use it as an opportunity to get even better. Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. Hold yourself to realistic and compassionate standards.

Stay present. Oftentimes, you might feel like a fraud because you’re bringing the past or the future into the present moment. Quiet your inner critic by focusing on where you are right now in this moment. Take a few deep breaths and feel the strength and courage that you have within you. Harness this present energy to put your best self forward.