How to overcome Impostor Syndrome
- Apr 22
- 4 min read
If you often feel like you’ve fooled everyone into thinking you're more capable than you are - and you're constantly waiting for someone to call you out - you’re not alone. Impostor syndrome is sneaky, but there are ways to put it back in its place. Start by owning your wins, ditching constant comparisons, and giving up the exhausting pursuit of perfection.
Let’s get into it.
Wait... What exactly is Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor syndrome is that internal voice that whispers: “You’re not good enough. Sooner or later, they’ll figure you out.” It’s the sense that you're faking it, that your accomplishments are due to luck or kindness from others, and that you’re secretly unqualified - even when all evidence says otherwise.
It’s especially common among high-achievers, creatives, and highly sensitive people who often hold themselves to impossible standards.
What it might look like (yes, even for you)
Impostor thoughts can show up in all kinds of sneaky ways:
When your manager assigns you to lead a new campaign: “They must be desperate… I’m probably the only one who didn’t say no.”
When someone praises your design work: “They’re just being polite. Honestly, I just copied the trend everyone’s using.”
When a friend says you're inspiring: “Oh come on, if they only knew how messy I actually am!”
These thoughts are so familiar we hardly question them anymore - but they chip away at our confidence over time. And let’s be real: it’s exhausting. For you, and for others who feel like they have to constantly reassure you (which can get a little awkward, right?).
Step One to overcome Impostor Syndrome: Call it out (with compassion)
The first step isn’t to destroy impostor syndrome, but to acknowledge it. Accept that it might show up in certain situations - but without judgment, guilt, or shame. It’s not a character flaw. It’s a response, and it can be unlearned.
Start paying attention to when it pops up: Does it happen when you're asked to speak publicly? When you're given more responsibility? When others succeed around you?
By catching those moments, you create space to choose a different narrative.
Reframe that inner dialogue
Let’s say your team asks you to oversee a big event:
Old thought: “They must not realize I’ve never done anything like this. I’m totally unqualified!”
New frame: “This is new territory, yes - but they trust me. That means something. I can learn as I go.”
Reframing doesn’t mean pretending everything’s perfect. It means talking to yourself like you would talk to a good friend. Encouraging, not dismissive.
The two-headed monster: Overworking vs. Freezing
Impostor syndrome usually pushes you into one of two reactions:
Procrastination – You feel paralyzed by self-doubt and avoid taking action (just in case you “fail”).
Overcompensation – You push yourself to work harder and longer to "prove" you belong.
Neither is healthy. And both come from the same place: fear of not being enough.
Your successes are yours
You didn’t land that role, deliver that project, or get that compliment by accident.
Take time to document your wins - big and small. Keep a notebook or a digital note where you jot down every achievement, every moment you made progress, every “I did it!” feeling. You’ll be surprised how much you’ve accomplished when you look back over time.
People don’t give opportunities out of pity
Let’s be honest - if you were running a business, would you give important responsibilities to someone just because you felt bad for them? Nope. You’d want people who deliver, who have skills, who show up.
So why assume that’s the only reason you’re being trusted?
You’re not where you are by accident. Believe it
Ditch the Perfectionism
You don’t need to be the best at everything. You don’t even need to be “amazing” all the time. You just need to be you - capable, learning, growing.
Give yourself permission to make mistakes, to be unsure, to not know everything. That’s where real growth happens.
Stop playing the Comparison Game
Here’s the truth: you’re comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. You see their success, but not the nights they doubted themselves, the times they failed, or the years it took to get there.
What if they’re also silently dealing with impostor syndrome? (Statistically, there's a good chance they are.)
Compare yourself only to your past self. Track how far you’ve come. That’s where your real power is.
Take away
Impostor syndrome doesn’t mean you’re broken - it means you care. It shows you’re thoughtful, reflective, and pushing yourself.
But it doesn’t get to be in the driver’s seat anymore.
Next time it shows up, thank it for trying to protect you, then remind yourself: “I belong here. I’ve earned this. And I’m not done growing.”
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