Michelle Obama opens up about battling 'impostor syndrome'
The former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, admitted that she suffers from "impostor syndrome". "That feeling never goes away," she revealed. Many people face a similar issue, often without realising it.
Barack Obama met Michelle (then Robinson) in 1989, when they worked together at a law firm in Chicago. At that time, she was his advisor, and although she initially refused to go on a date with him, she eventually agreed and quickly fell in love. The former US President proposed two years later in one of the restaurants where the couple was celebrating passing the bar exam. "And then the waiter came over with the dessert and a tray. And there was the ring," she recalled years ago.
In her new book, "Overcoming: A Workbook," Michelle Obama shares her insights on how she and her husband Barack Obama deal with marital problems, and also reveals her struggles with self-doubt and "impostor syndrome".
Michelle Obama suffers from "impostor syndrome"
People experiencing "impostor syndrome" feel they are not competent enough in their field. They often question their own integrity and believe they do not deserve success or recognition from others. They maintain the belief that their skills or knowledge are not sufficient to earn approval and recognition.
"I still have 'impostor syndrome.' It never goes away," Obama said in a conversation with Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. "It doesn't go away, that feeling that you shouldn't take me that seriously. What do I know? I share that with you because we all have doubts in our abilities, about our power and what that power is," she added.
Michelle Obama on the symptoms
Michelle Obama finds it more challenging to deal with marital disputes than her husband does. She experiences arguments more intensely than her partner and requires much more time to resolve them. "My brain will sometimes implode at the outset of a conflict, and the last thing I want to do is engage in some instantly rational, bullet-pointed debate about who's right or what the solution is," she said.
Living with "impostor syndrome" is not easy. Barack Obama’s beloved constantly torments herself. "I've lived with my fearful mind for more than sixty years now," she emphasised. "We don't get along. She makes me uneasy. She likes to see me weak. She keeps a giant overstuffed file folder containing every mistake and misstep I've ever made and is constantly scanning the universe for further evidence of my failings," she assessed.
