The universe desires you. That's why you're here. We feel like imposters in this society not because of us, but because the system is an imposter. We are trying to contort our nature into an artificial system. We feel like imposters because we are betraying our true nature. Then we get confused and think the problem is with us. We are not recognizing that the problem is that the system is the imposter.
Industrialization's impact
Since industrialization, we have been turned into cogs in a machine. We are expected to be on-time, not make mistakes, bend our nature to fit and fulfill the role of a piece of wiring in a complex machine. When we get hired into these roles within corporations or organizations, many times we think we are impostors. Maybe we believe we aren't good enough, or perfect enough, or skilled enough. We don't probe deeper and question why we give this system so much credibility to begin with. We aren't pieces of wire that are knitted together to make our modern world run. We are human beings. That we can distort ourselves so much is a testament to the creativity and adaptability of the human mind and body. Nevertheless, we must first see that this data-driven, industrial behemoth is the imposter. It is an imposter because it cares only about producing wealth and efficiency, not love or relationships which are the fundamental building blocks of human belonging. No wonder when we enter an environment that cares only about us being a conduit for information, or performing some tiny action, disconnected from the whole, that we start questioning ourselves.
Internalizers
Those that question themselves tend to be internalizers. That means that rather than question the external factors that are creating the emotional conflict or dissatisfaction, internalizers seek to assign blame internally. This is adaptive because it gives someone more of a sense of control over a situation that maybe they are powerless against. If I see myself as the problem, maybe I can fix it if I just work harder, or read more, or get some training or therapy or whatever. Acknowledging that the entire system is an imposter and that we're stuck in it is a maybe a more difficult pill to swallow.
Coping with imposter syndrome
To deal with this predicament, first realize that none of this is your fault. You were born into a world that is structured in a way that conditioned you from day one to think this way. This is where cultivating compassion is critical. Be kind to yourself. Remember that it's our relationships with others that give us joy and belonging, not being an efficient piece of conduit in an industrial environment. Remember that you are a human being first, and someone who has to perform actions to get paid second. Learning to value yourself and be kind to yourself are important steps to overcoming imposter syndrome.