Imposter syndrome is the uneasy feeling that you don’t deserve the accolade, that people will think you are a fraud, or that the committee made a mistake. Sadly, this syndrome, or phenomenon, as it is now referred to, is extremely common, even among high performers ranging from Supreme Court justices to Academy Award-winning actors. But there is an overlooked antidote.

We often tell ourselves the achievement occurred due to luck or timing, but the truth of the matter is, it was consistent hard work. The self-doubt snowballs when there is no one to validate your progress or hold up a mirror and reflect your strength back to you and remind you of the path you crossed and hurdles you overcame.

That person who holds you up when you feel like hiding is commonly known as a mentor—even if you didn’t assign them that title. The mentor is able to offer an external, objective lens that helps reframe your distorted thinking and break the cycle of misguided falsehoods.

© Psychology Today