Tips on how to shake the feeling that you're an impostor

Tips on how to shake the feeling that you're an impostor

　　Transcript¹

　　NPR's Life Kit² team looks at the factors that contribute to experiencing impostor phenomenon and how to deal with them. (This story originally aired on All Things Considered on Feb. 14, 2021.)

　　A MARTINEZ, HOST:

　　Have you ever felt like you were a fraud, that your peers were somehow all smarter and more creative than you? For NPR's Life Kit, reporter Diana Opong looks at the factors that might prompt this feeling, called the imposter phenomenon.

　　DIANA OPONG, BYLINE³: Before you can work through feeling like an imposter, you have to be able to identify it. And that right there is tip No. 1.

　　ANDREA SALAZAR-NUNEZ: One of the most validating⁴ things to do is to name it because so many times, especially for people of color, women of color, like, we're gaslighted, dismissed, ignored when we bring up these things.

　　OPONG: That was Dr. Andrea Salazar-Nunez. She's a staff psychologist at the University of Washington Counseling Center.

　　Now that we've named this feeling, let's examine where it came from and exactly what it means to feel like an imposter.

　　SUZANNE IMES: The imposter phenomenon is a feeling by many high-achieving people that they're not as intelligent, as creative, as able as other people think they are. And they live in a constant fear that somebody is going to find that out.

　　OPONG: The voice you just heard was Dr. Suzanne Imes. She's currently a practicing therapist in Atlanta, Ga. Dr. Imes actually coined the term imposter phenomenon, since it's not a syndrome⁵ in the medical sense. What we see, hear and read can intensify⁶ this phenomenon, especially for people of color.

　　IMES: If you're in a context where you're in a minority, you're more likely to feel like an imposter.

　　OPONG: For tip No. 2, it's important to acknowledge the societal impact that influences this feeling. Dr. Salazar-Nunez explains why we should consider cultural context when it comes to the imposter phenomenon.

　　SALAZAR-NUNEZ: Part of the work that I do is putting things into context, historical context, because that brings a great awareness⁷ of where everything fits, right? So when we feel hysterical⁸ - when you put it in context, it may look more historical.

　　OPONG: You've named it, and you are taking into consideration how various societal systems can amplify⁹ this feeling. But now what? Well, this is a good time to move on to tip No. 3, taking stock of your true talents. A technique that Dr. Imes uses with her clients involves making a list with three columns.

　　IMES: And in the first column, I'm not so good at, in the second column, I'm medium-good at, in the third column, I'm very good at. And you write all the things you can think of.

　　OPONG: Dr. Imes often shares her own worksheet with her patients. Directions - she's not too good with. But...

　　IMES: I also like to tell them I'm very good at pingpong.

　　OPONG: One thing I wanted to know is if this feeling will ever go away. Can I be cured of this?

　　IMES: Do you ever get over it? Are you ever cured? No.

　　OPONG: OK, not exactly the answer I was hoping to hear. But it's not all bad news. Dr. Imes says the imposter phenomenon will start to wane¹⁰ as you get older.

　　IMES: When I was younger, I had to achieve, achieve, achieve. I have three masters degrees and a doctorate¹¹. That is ridiculous. But I'm 76 years old, and I still love being a psychologist and a therapist. Well, OK, I know how to do this, so I have to do it, or I should do it. No, I don't have those shoulds the way I used to.

　　OPONG: Getting older has never looked so good.

　　For NPR News, I'm Diana Opong.

　　(SOUNDBITE OF KNOWSUM'S "POOPOOP")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 validating   

v.证实( validate的现在分词 )；确证；使生效；使有法律效力

参考例句：

• His politics at home were validating his efforts in the hemisphere. 他的国内政策也有效地支持了他对本半球所做的努力。 来自辞典例句
• A number of different experimental approaches have aided in validating the concept. 许多不同的实验方法，有助于确证这种概念。 来自辞典例句

5 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

6 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

7 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

8 hysterical   

adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的

参考例句：

• He is hysterical at the sight of the photo.他一看到那张照片就异常激动。
• His hysterical laughter made everybody stunned.他那歇斯底里的笑声使所有的人不知所措。

9 amplify   

vt.放大，增强；详述，详加解说

参考例句：

• The new manager wants to amplify the company.新经理想要扩大公司。
• Please amplify your remarks by giving us some examples.请举例详述你的话。

10 wane   

n.衰微，亏缺，变弱；v.变小，亏缺，呈下弦

参考例句：

• The moon is on the wane.月亮渐亏。
• Her enthusiasm for him was beginning to wane.她对他的热情在开始减退。

11 doctorate   

n.(大学授予的)博士学位

参考例句：

• He hasn't enough credits to get his doctorate.他的学分不够取得博士学位。
• Where did she do her doctorate?她在哪里攻读博士？