The Imposter Cure Book Summary - The Imposter Cure Book explained in key points
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The Imposter Cure summary

Dr. Jessamy Hibberd

Escape the mind-trap of imposter syndrome

4.5 (406 ratings)
17 mins

What is The Imposter Cure about?

The Imposter Cure (2019) provides strategies for increasing confidence, overcoming fears and doubts, and learning to see oneself through the eyes of others.

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    The Imposter Cure
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    There are five types of imposter.

    Have you ever felt like you were a fraud? Maybe you’ve just got a job promotion and are worried you won't live up to expectations. Perhaps you're in college and finding it hard to keep up with your peers. Whatever your reason for feeling that way, you may be experiencing imposter syndrome.

    Imposter syndrome occurs whenever your beliefs and expectations collide. For example, people with the syndrome feel shame when they don't achieve their goals. This results in guilt, leading to self-doubt and poor performance. Research by Dr. Valerie Young – an expert on the syndrome and cofounder of the Imposter Syndrome Institute – shows that people with the syndrome present with one of five character traits.

    Perfectionists have high standards. They’re filled with self-doubt when things aren't perfect. They're afraid of failure. But since perfection is impossible, these feelings create a never-ending cycle of hard work and dissatisfaction.

    Natural geniuses focus on how and when things are done. They feel like fakes when they can’t do something right away. They learn new things quickly but lack perseverance.

    Soloists believe a goal is only worth pursuing if they can achieve it alone. So they don’t ask for help – even when a project is going wrong. When they encounter troubles, they put things off so they don’t have to admit defeat.

    Experts are knowledge perfectionists. They believe competence means knowing everything. They won’t consider a job if they don’t meet all the requirements. Experts worry about seeming inexperienced or uninformed.

    Superwomen and Supermen have unreal expectations and, like perfectionists, they believe it's all or nothing. They define competence as flawless performance in any role or situation.

    Did you recognize yourself as belonging to one of these types? If so, you too may have imposter syndrome. While there’s no single “cure” for imposter syndrome, understanding how it manifests is an ideal place to start.

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    About the Author

    Dr. Jessamy Hibberd is a chartered clinical psychologist, best-selling author, and speaker. Over the course of her many years of clinical practice, she’s helped countless adults struggling with mental health. She’s dedicated to making psychology more accessible and regularly contributes to newspapers and magazines worldwide.

    Who should read The Imposter Cure?

    • Anybody who feels like a fraud
    • Grown-ups who don’t feel grown up
    • Self-sabotagers

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