Have you ever felt like a fraud, like you’re just one mistake away from being “found out”? Do you downplay your achievements and think, “I just got lucky”? If so, you’re not alone – you might be experiencing imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is the internal belief that you’re not as competent, intelligent, or capable as others perceive you to be, despite clear evidence of your success. It affects people across all walks of life – from cleaners to consultants – and can hold you back from reaching your full potential.
Lets break it down.
1. You Fear Being “Exposed” as a Fraud
No matter how much you accomplish, you live with fear that people will discover you’re not as smart or capable as you ‘present’. This fear can lead to chronic anxiety and overworking to “cover up” your perceived inadequacy and is especially prevalent when we start a new venture / uplevel i.e. a promotion.
2. You Attribute Success to Luck or Timing
Do you just shrug off achievements and think, “I was just in the right place at the right time”? This is a classic sign of imposter syndrome. You may struggle to realise the work you put in and believe external factors / chance are at play, rather than your own skill or effort.
3. You Feel Overworked and/or Burnout
Are you noticing that certain tasks and self care have slipped or disappeared? Are you losing interest and motivation, including for things you used to enjoy. Feeling like there you are constantly working but never getting anything done? Relatable… this can be another sign of the Imposter Syndrome Umbrella.
4. You Set Unrealistically High Standards
Perfectionism and imposter syndrome go hand in hand. You might hold yourself to near impossible standards or keep moving the goal posts – when you fall short, you use it as “evidence” that you’re not good enough. If your best friend told you they got 80% on a test – it is likely you would congratulate them, but how would you feel, would you be thinking about the other 20%?
5. All or Nothing Thinking
Do you struggle to see the grey / nuance, particularly when it comes to your own success? Example… you are pretty such that you got 1 question wrong on a test, do you feel like you must have failed the whole thing?
Armed with this knowledge. The good news? You can break the cycle. Here’s how:
1. Acknowledge and Talk About It
The first step to overcoming imposter syndrome is awareness. Simply acknowledging, “This is imposter syndrome talking,” can take away some of its power. Considered sharing with a friend can also help you rationalise – and also understand that you are not alone.
2. Progress Focus
Start a success journal. Write down your achievements, big or small, and revisit them regularly. This helps you build a factual case of evidence against your Imposter Syndrome though process.
3. Self Care
We all need a healthy brain balance to feel our best and live our best lives. How can you get more of these? For instance Dopamine can be achieved by ticking off something from your to do list (perhaps start with something you have already done!), Endorphins can be achieved by a walk in nature / stretching or eating dark chocolate!
4. Reframe Your Thoughts
Instead of saying, “I don’t belong here,” try “I’m learning and growing like everyone else.” Reframing helps shift your inner narrative from self-doubt to self-compassion.
5. Clearing Blocks to Progress
There are multiple free resources online such as hypnosis audios, mediations and tapping. 1:1 work such as with a therapist, can be a really powerful and personalised catalyst for change. You have accountability and the added benefit of an expert looking in and helping you with any personal blind spots. The Pathfinder Therapies offers various programs with a powerful combination of blended therapies / Hypnotherapy to help you overcome Imposter Syndrome. To find out more, please just send a message HERE / Book an Initial Consultation HERE.
Final Thoughts
Imposter syndrome may whisper that you’re not good enough—but you don’t have to listen. You are not a fraud. You’re a work in progress, and that’s more than enough. The more you embrace your worth, the more empowered, grounded, and confident you’ll feel.
You’ve earned your place. Own it.
Written by Lauren Ann, founder of The Pathfinder Therapies.
Lauren is a Solution Focused Therapist / Hypnotherapist, with a background in Adult Nursing. She specialises in Anxiety, helping her clients to take back control and find their path. As well as her work with 1:1 therapy clients, she offers Stress Busting Hypno-relaxations, Reiki and Tapping, travelling the UK to complete workshops such as “Stop Worrying, Start Living”. She has also published a colouring book which is based in Neuroscience – “Colour Into Sleep”.
