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Imposter Syndrome Isn’t What You Think: Why We Get It Wrong — and Why It Matters

There’s a particular kind of doubt that shows up when things are going well.

You’ve worked hard, maybe even overprepared. You’re told you’re doing a great job but there’s a voice in the background that says, “They think I’m more capable than I really am.”

These are what many of us now refer to as imposter feelings — the quiet, internal belief that your achievements don’t reflect your actual worth. That one day, someone might realize you're not as competent, prepared, or smart as they believed.

And despite what we often hear online, imposter feelings aren’t just about confidence, and they’re not simply a mindset problem or a personal flaw.

🔍 Where It Began

The term Imposter Phenomenon was first introduced in the 1970s by psychologists Dr. Pauline Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes, describing a pattern they observed in high-achieving women who attributed their success to external factors, like luck or timing rather than ability.

Since then, we’ve learned that these feelings affect people across genders, age groups, and professional levels.
In fact, up to 82% of people report experiencing imposter feelings at some point in their lives (Bravata et al., 2020).

But along the way, as the term Imposter Syndrome became popular, its meaning started to blur and with that came a set of myths that do more harm than good.

🚫 5 Common Myths About Imposter Feelings

Let’s clear up a few things:

🔸 Myth 1: Only women experience it
Imposter feelings were first studied in women, but they’re now widely recognized in men, non-binary individuals, students, athletes, and professionals across fields. They’re not gendered, they’re human.

🔸 Myth 2: It’s a good thing; it keeps you motivated
This idea is misleading. While fear can drive short-term performance, it often comes with chronic stress, overworking, and burnout. Real motivation is sustainable, imposter-driven pressure rarely is.

🔸 Myth 3: It’s just in your head
Imposter feelings don’t arise in isolation. They’re shaped by upbringing, culture, comparison, and how environments reward output and perfectionism over process and effort.

🔸 Myth 4: It’s caused by oppression
Oppression and lack of representation can deepen imposter feelings, but they aren’t the sole cause. Even people who seem secure or socially privileged can feel like they don’t belong.

🔸 Myth 5: It will never go away
These feelings may resurface in new contexts, but they aren’t fixed. With the right tools, they can be understood, managed, and softened over time.

💡 Why It Matters

When imposter feelings go unexamined, they don’t just affect how you feel, they shape how you show up in the world:

• You overcompensate by working longer, redoing work that’s already good enough.

• You avoid opportunities that could challenge or grow you.

• You downplay praise or struggle to believe it’s genuine.

• You avoid asking for what you deserve, whether it’s recognition, a raise, or a promotion, because deep down, you’re not sure you’ve earned it.

This doesn’t only show up in professional life.
It affects students who stop raising their hands, athletes who underperform under pressure, teachers who second-guess their impact, and parents who quietly wonder if they’re doing it all wrong.

These feelings often stay hidden, not because people are ungrateful or unprepared, but because they’ve never been taught how to trust their own success.

🔄 What We Can Do About It

The work isn’t about becoming more; it’s about becoming clearer and getting curious.

• Where do these beliefs come from?

• Whose approval are you still chasing?

• What proof do you actually have that you’re not good/smart enough?

Imposter feelings thrive in isolation, perfectionism, and silence. Tools like breathwork, mental fitness, and reflective coaching frameworks can help disrupt old patterns and build a stronger internal foundation that is based on trust, but not on fear.

If you’ve been carrying the weight of needing to “prove yourself” over and over again, maybe the work ahead isn’t to prove anything but to reconnect with what’s true about you.

💬 Send me a message or book a free discovery call.