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Picture this: you land an incredible new job that you’ve worked hard for, but instead of celebrating, you’re consumed by doubt. You start thinking — “What if they realize I’m not as skilled as they think? What if I can’t live up to their expectations?” This is impostor syndrome in action. It’s that relentless voice whispering in your head that you’re a fraud or that you’re undeserving of your achievements.
It’s the constant fear that you’re one mistake away from being “exposed.” However, feeling like an impostor doesn’t reflect reality; it reflects perfectionistic standards — both externally-imposed and your own. Here are three ways to quiet the inner voice that makes you feel like an impostor and own your success.
Even the best in their fields can feel insecure. Maya Angelou once admitted she feared being exposed as a fraud despite her literary achievements. Albert Einstein called himself an “involuntary swindler.
” Impostor syndrome often arises not because you’re unqualified, but because you care deeply about your craft and hold yourself to high standards. Ironically, it’s usually the most competent people who doubt themselves — precisely because they’re aware of how much there is to learn. This often creates an unhelpful emotional cycle: you succeed, but instead of internalizing your achievement, you attribute it to luck, charm or timing.
That temporary relief of achievement then resets, and you start doubting yourself all over again. There’s also a social dimension to this. When we compare our behind-the-scenes struggles to what we see of everyone else’s lives, we start to believe we’re the only ones who feel like this.
But the truth is, impostor thoughts are more common than we think — especially in high-achieving, underrepresented or transitional spaces (like starting a new job, switching careers or entering grad school). Often, the higher people climb, the more they fear falling. Thoughts like “What if they find out I’m not as good as they think?” can lead to anxiety, overworking or even self-sabotage.
When you open up about these feelings to a mentor or a friend, you’ll likely hear, “Me too.” Such moments of shared humanity help deflate the shame. Silence keeps it alive, while community support can help break the cycle and remind you that self-doubt is an invitation to work on self-belief, not proof you don’t belong.
Recognizing that you’re not alone doesn’t just ease the emotional burden — it can actually rewire the way you see yourself. Whether it’s a peer support group, a mentor or even honest conversations with colleagues, surrounding yourself with others who have navigated the same doubts helps you see your experience as part of a larger human pattern — not a personal flaw. One 2019 study published in the Journal of Further and Higher Education found that talking openly about how common these thoughts are can make a big difference.
Students were also encouraged to share their own ways of reading, writing and thinking in academia. This not only helped them build confidence, but also reminded them that learning is a process and not a proof of inadequacy. Supervisors who focused not just on academic content, but also on teaching academic skills and demystifying academic culture, helped students feel more equipped and less alone.
These kinds of supportive environments can reduce impostor feelings and create space for growth. Over time, this sense of community and connection can shift your internal narrative from “I’m a fraud” to “I’m growing, and I belong here just like everyone else.” Many people fall into the “expert trap,” believing they must “know everything” to be seen as competent.
So, when they encounter a knowledge gap — which is a natural part of learning — they panic. A 2023 study confirms that maladaptive forms of perfectionism can lower one’s self-esteem, intensifying feelings of negativity and impostorism. However, growth doesn’t require perfection.
True competence isn’t about never failing; it’s about being curious, resilient and open to learning. When you consciously adopt the identity of a learner, it softens the unrealistic pressure to be flawless. It allows you to adopt a growth mindset, where mistakes are viewed as opportunities to expand your skills.
You don’t need to have all the answers. What matters most is your willingness to learn and grow, because without giving yourself the chance to make mistakes and be a lifelong learner, you can’t reach the level you desire to be at. Realizing this can help reduce impostor syndrome because it reframes gaps in knowledge as normal and necessary.
You’re no longer trying to prove you belong — you’re actively becoming the kind of person who does. And that shift from fear to curiosity can be incredibly liberating There’s a difference between feeling like an impostor and being one. At its core, impostor syndrome thrives on negative self-talk.
And while external support matters, your internal dialogue is just as crucial. If you often downplay your wins or credit them to luck or timing, you’re not alone. This kind of thinking — “I only got promoted because no one else applied” — is a common cognitive distortion.
Start reframing such thoughts. For instance, instead of: “I don’t belong here,” try “I earned my place, and I’m still learning.” Changing how you talk to yourself can help you shift from self-doubt to self-awareness.
By rewriting your inner narrative, you begin to reclaim your confidence. A 2020 study published in the Australasian Journal of Philosophy suggests that impostor syndrome is a form of self-deception, where individuals ignore positive evidence about their skills and capabilities, “while readily accepting evidence in favour of their inadequacy,” as the author explains. A powerful way to reframe your thoughts and view yourself more realistically is to start a file, whether it’s physical or digital, where you log positive feedback, compliments, achievements and moments you’ve felt proud of, so that you can no longer ignore evidence of your abilities.
Whenever self-doubt creeps in, revisit it. Let facts speak louder than your feelings. Impostor syndrome doesn’t mean you’re a fraud.
It means you care. If you really were a fraud, you likely wouldn’t worry about being one. The goal isn’t to eliminate your doubt completely, but to manage it with practical evidence and self-compassion.
So next time doubt creeps in, don’t panic. Let it be a reminder that you’re growing and that you’re exactly where you need to be. Ever feel like you’re “faking it” through life, even when your success says otherwise? Take the science-backed Impostor Syndrome Scale to find out.
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