6 Powerful Stoic Quotes from Marcus Aurelius That Will Help You Conquer Impostor Syndrome

How The 2,000 Year Old Words From a Roman Emperor Can Help You Overcome Self-Doubt

We all know that feeling.

The feeling of not being good enough. Of not being talented enough. Of feeling like a fraud that is about to be found out. This feeling has a name.

It’s called Impostor Syndrome.

The good news? We all feel this way at times. Everyone who challenges themselves and journeys outside their comfort zone experiences it. You’re not alone. The most talented and powerful people today and throughout history have experienced Impostor Syndrome.

Case in point: Roman Emperor and Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius.

Marcus regularly wrote to himself in his journal, which would later be published as Meditations. When you read it, you can see hints of an emperor that struggled at times with his power. Who needed help. Who was unsure of himself. Marcus may have felt a bit of Impostor Syndrome himself. He wasn’t born into the royal family. He was adopted and thrust into the role of emperor. He seems to have struggled with it at times.

The even better news about Impostor Syndrome? It can be overcome with some simple mindset shifts.

In Marcus’ writings we can find tactics, mindsets, and inspiration to overcome Impostor Syndrome. Marcus didn’t write specifically about Imposter Syndrome, but Meditations provides powerful advice on how we can overcome it.

Advice from the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius that can help you conquer Impostor Syndrome.

Ask for Help

A lot of times we suffer through Impostor Syndrome alone, feeling it’s a sign of weakness, afraid to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, especially early on in your career. Sometimes asking a simple question gives us the info we need to feel more confident.

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