Imposter syndrome is a common fear-based hindrance which serves as an informative example of how to utilize body-based skills to manage it while pursuing sustainable high performance.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.
The previous article described how psychological skills are important and beneficial when we are within anchored and grounded states. The article also discussed how when we have shifted into protective and defensive states, these skills become less effective. In order to further illustrate this important concept, a common fear-based hindrance can be used and analyzed further.
Imposter syndrome is one of several fear-based hindrances. Other common examples include fear of failure and fear of evaluation or criticism. This category of elements negatively impacts our ability to perform at our highest level. Typically imposter syndrome manifests itself through the inner critic and an accompanying dialogue of thoughts that we are not good enough to perform at a high level, our ability will be found out to not be as proficient as portrayed, and that ultimately we will demonstrate that we do not deserve to be or are not capable of performing at a high level. In response to this dialogue, a frequent response is to play safe and not fully pursue our potential. Ultimately this limits our growth and development and inhibits the pursuit of our full capacity and potential.
The purpose of this article is to utilize imposter syndrome as a case illustration to describe how the complementary utilization of psychological skills and body-based practices is beneficial in managing fear-based hindrances. In addition, the limitations to purely psychologically based approaches will be described. While the focus of this article is on imposter syndrome, a similar evaluation could be provided for any of the fear-based hindrances and, in fact, any scenario in which we have shifted into protective and defensive states.
At the outside of this article, it is important to further describe imposter syndrome. The typical manifestations were outlined above. It is also essential to acknowledge that even amongst those of us who have significant levels of imposter syndrome, we do not experience this inner dialogue at all times. Even if this self talk is most prevalent, there are invariably other scenarios and situations in which we do believe in our abilities, do not doubt our capacity to perform at a high level, and do not expect to be found out for being less able than we portray.
This understanding that imposter syndrome is not a fixed construct is important. More importantly, it is valuable to consider why this is the case. Ultimately, the explanation lies in our biological states. The typical manifestations and dialogue which emerge within imposter syndrome do so when we have shifted into protective and defensive states. Within these states, a more negative or pessimistic outlook is typical and we will tend to explain our underlying physiological sensations in a way that is protective of our overall self. With this in mind, we can understand why the inner dialogue described above emerges. Essentially, it is an attempt to explain our physiological sensations and provide a narrative that influences us towards playing small and not pushing the edges of our potential. This is in order to protect and defend ourselves.
Within anchored and grounded states, the typical attributes which emerge do not support an imposter syndrome type of inner dialogue. Rather, the natural tendencies of anchored and grounded states are more supportive of a belief in our self, confidence in our abilities, and an understanding that we can push the edges and limits of our current ability in order to grow and develop further.
The understanding that imposter syndrome is not fixed, but rather a reflection of our biological state is essential. This recognition lies at the core of the preferred strategy to manage imposter syndrome. With the understanding in mind that this fear-based hindrance emerges from protective and defensive states, we can readily understand how a beneficial approach to manage this scenario would be to implement strategies and tactics to increase our anchored and grounded states.
From a strategic perspective, we can recognize how utilizing psychological skills and body-based practices to strengthen our anchored and grounded states and improve nervous system flexibility will be beneficial. Incorporating strategies across each of the internal, external, and relational pathways is particularly beneficial. By developing these attributes, we reduce the opportunities for shifting into protective and defensive states and increase our ability to shift back towards anchored and grounded states following the inevitable shifts which will occur, particularly in high demand domains. This inherently will reduce the likelihood for imposter syndrome to emerge.
From a tactical perspective, we can recognize how when we identify the inner dialogue typical of imposter syndrome emerging that this reflects a shift into protective and defensive states. Given the discussion in the previous article, we further understand that the utilization of psychological skills is unlikely to be beneficial in this situation. Rather, implementation of body-based practices to shift back towards anchored and grounded states is needed. Often, in this circumstance it is most effective to initially utilize body-based practices within primarily the internal pathway and, where and when possible, also include tactics across the external and relational pathways. Once a shift away from protective and defensive states has occurred, we can then layer back the psychological skills in a complementary way with our body-based practices to maintain anchored and grounded states.
It is also useful to consider that if we were to only utilize a psychologically based paradigm when impostor syndrome emerges, our ability to manage imposter syndrome would be greatly reduced. Once the inner dialogue has materialized, the utilization of psychological skills will be unlikely to be helpful in reducing the impact of imposter syndrome and shifting back towards anchored and grounded states. The explanation for why this is the case was described in detail in the previous article, including how an attempt to utilize these skills within this situation may, in fact, result in deepening of the defensive and protective state and lead to increased strength of the manifestations of impostor syndrome. This understanding emphasizes how a complementary approach to psychological skills and body-based practices is necessary in order to best manage imposter syndrome. This is also the case for all fear-based hindrances and reducing their impact on our ability to perform at the edges of our potential.
In order to fully pursue sustainable high performance, it is inevitable that fear-based hindrances, in particular imposter syndrome, will emerge at times. In order to manage this, it is useful to implement complementary psychologically-based and body-based strategies and body-based tactics in order to best manage these situations. By utilizing this approach, we will best be able to reduce the impact of imposter syndrome, thereby allowing us to push the edges of our potential and perform at our highest level in a sustainable fashion.
To learn more, including about biologically complementary coaching for healthcare professionals and others in high demand domains, please visit www.darindavidson.com.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.