The Truth About Self-Doubt: Why Feeling Like a Fraud Means You're on the Right Track

Feeling like a fraud despite your accomplishments? You're not alone, and it might actually be evidence that you're excelling. Today we dive deep into the paradox of imposter syndrome – that pervasive feeling that you don't deserve your success and everyone will eventually discover you're a fake.

The fascinating truth is that actual imposters don't experience imposter syndrome. Those confident "fake it till you make it" types rarely question their qualifications. Meanwhile, an astonishing 70% of us (according to the International Journal of Behavioral Science) grapple with self-doubt despite evidence of our competence. Even renowned figures like Brené Brown and Mel Robbins have admitted to these feelings.

What makes imposter syndrome particularly insidious is how it sabotages your potential in subtle ways. It causes you to hesitate when opportunities arise, downplay achievements as "just luck," overwork to prove your worth, avoid visibility, and sometimes even self-sabotage when success feels uncomfortable. I share my personal struggles with these patterns, including doubts about my qualifications as a coach and podcast host.

We examine the common triggers: perfectionism (setting impossible standards), childhood conditioning (where success wasn't celebrated), social comparison (especially in the age of curated social media), new challenges (when you're in unfamiliar territory), and even the strange phenomenon of discounting natural talents because they come easily.

The episode culminates with five actionable strategies to overcome imposter syndrome: naming it when you feel it, collecting evidence of your accomplishments, reframing failure as growth, stopping the over-preparation cycle, and practicing confidence even before you feel it. I also recommend two transformative books: "The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women" by Valerie Young and "Presence" by Amy Cuddy.

Remember, the vision you have for your life isn't accidental—it's a calling. And if you weren't capable of achieving it, the dream wouldn't have been given to you in the first place. Are you ready to stop doubting and start believing in yourself? Subscribe for more Monday Mindset episodes that will help you unleash your inner radiance.

Chapters

• 0:57 Welcome to Monday Mindset
• 2:06 What is Imposter Syndrome?
• 5:44 How It Holds You Back
• 8:42 Common Causes of Self-Doubt
• 11:28 Five Ways to Overcome It
• 14:34 Book Recommendations and Closing

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:29

Welcome back to another Monday Mindset on Unleash your Interradiance. I'm Lisa, your Catalyst, life, wellness and Transformation Coach, and today we're going to go there. We are talking about that sneaky little gremlin that loves to show up uninvited every time you are about to level up Imposter Syndrome. And let's get one thing straight right off the bat Actual imposters do not have imposter syndrome. Nope, if you are sitting there doubting yourself, questioning if you're good enough, smart enough or worthy enough, guess what? That's actually a sign that you are legit. Those fake it till you make it types. They don't stress about this stuff. They're out there winging it without a care in the world. So today we're going to talk about why imposter syndrome happens, how it's holding you back from becoming the person you were meant to be and, most importantly, how to kick it to the curb once and for all. So let's dive in. What is imposter syndrome and why? Is it not not a sign of failure? Let's get clear first on what imposter syndrome actually is. Imposter syndrome is like the feeling that you are a fraud, that you don't deserve your success and that sooner or later everyone's going to figure out that you've just been lucky this whole time. I kind of have that every now and then, starting this podcast. You know, do I know everything? No, do I like to talk? Yes, can I talk a lot? Yes, but sometimes I'm like, should I really be doing this podcast? Because I really don't know if I should. I don't know if I'm qualified, I don't know if I'm worthy of this, but guess what I am.

Speaker 1: 2:42

So the term imposter syndrome was first coined in 1978 by psychologist Dr Pauline Clancy and Dr Suzanne Imes. They originally studied high-achieving women who felt like they didn't deserve their success despite all of their accomplishments. But guess what? It's not just women who have this issue. Men, women, ceos, celebrities anyone and everyone can experience imposter syndrome. And here's a fun fact for you Research shows that 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. That is based on the International Journal of Behavioral Science. But even people like Mel Robbins, brene Brown and Jamie Kern Lima have admitted that they have felt like frauds at times. So for all of us to experience it, we're just normal, right, but let's figure out how to get rid of it, because even I need to work on my imposter syndrome. But I want to share with you another mind blower. This was funny.

Speaker 1: 4:22

Studies show that people who suffer from imposter syndrome are often more competent and capable than those who don't, because self-doubt drives them to over-prepare and work harder, which really sounds unfair, right? Because we have imposter syndrome, so we're going to work harder at what we're doing and we're going to over-prepare, hmm Well, so basically, I guess, if you're feeling like a fraud, it probably means you're actually killing it. But here's where it becomes a problem, and so I can see that because I prepare, even though I prepare, I still feel like an imposter a lot of times. So to me it seems like I am working harder, so I can definitely relate to that. So how imposter syndrome stops you from becoming the person you were meant to be. That's our next segment.

Speaker 1: 5:32

Imposter syndrome isn't just about feeling insecure. It's really truly a growth killer. It holds you back in like some really sneaky ways that you probably don't even realize that it's holding you back because it causes you to hesitate to take chances, because if you fail, you'll think it'll prove that you were never good enough. Do I still think that I will fail at what I'm doing as a coach? I will fail what I'm doing as a podcaster. Yeah, there are days that I feel like I am not good enough, but let me tell you how much I've grown from this. So it was worth taking the chance. But you know, I really hesitated and I do still hesitate.

Speaker 1: 6:29

The second one you downplay your success. I guess I kind of just did that. You tell yourself it was luck or timing instead of your hard work and talent. Number three you overwork yourself. You do this and you're just trying to prove that you belong, even though you already do. Number four you avoid the spotlight. You like to stay small, afraid that if you succeed, you'll somehow be exposed as an imposter. You self-sabotage yourself Is number five. Sabotage yourself is number five. When things are going too well, you subconsciously mess things up because success feels uncomfortable. Now let me tell you a little secret. All the things that I just listed I struggle with all the time, all the time. So if this sounds familiar to you, it's brutal, trust me. But the good news is you can beat it, and you have to because Because the version of you that you are meant to be, she's waiting on the other side of fear.

Speaker 1: 8:11

Now let's talk about common causes of imposter syndrome. One which I struggle with is perfectionism. One which I struggle with is perfectionism. You set impossibly high standards, even when you inevitably don't meet them, and that makes you feel like a failure. Even when you succeed, you focus on the 2% that went wrong instead of the 98% that went right. Two early conditioning. If you grew up in a home where success wasn't celebrated I grew up in a home where success really was not celebrated or, worse, you were criticized for failing you learned that nothing was ever good.

Speaker 1: 9:14

Number three is social comparison, social media. Oh, social media does not help here at all. Everyone's highlight reels makes you feel like you're falling behind, like they were lucky. They just have it. They have what it takes to do this. But you know what, if someone else has done it, you can do it too. The more you compare yourself to other people on social media, the worse you feel. Four is new territory. Starting a new job, a new business or stepping into a leadership role those are all scary.

Speaker 1: 10:11

Imposter syndrome loves to show up when you're in unknown waters. But you know what? Put yourself in unknown waters even more. That's what you should do. Number five success without effort.

Speaker 1: 10:30

If you are naturally good at something, you might assume it doesn't count because you didn't struggle to get it doesn't count because you didn't struggle to get it. You know, some things do come easy for people. Be happy about that, right. Okay, now let's talk about five ways to overcome imposter syndrome. Yeah, five ways. One you have to name it. Call it out. Name it the moment you're feeling it come in. Call it out why, what, why Right? Say it out loud. That's the imposter syndrome talking, not reality. So just call it out. Two collect receipts. Keep an I win file of positive feedback, achievements and compliments. I bet if you went right now and go back for the past year, write down all of the things that were accomplishments for you, I bet you forgot about all those, or most of them. Right, go back and look at those, because when you doubt yourself, it's fun to go back and read the evidence to show you that you are capable.

Speaker 1: 12:09

Reframe your failure is number three. Failure doesn't prove, isn't proof that you are not good enough. It's proof that you're growing. Every successful person has failed more times than you can even imagine. They have failed more times than you have even tried. Or stop over preparing. You know all these things. All these things are so real to me because overpreparing. Stop overpreparing, because you don't need to have all the answers before you start. If you start before you're ready, your action builds your confidence. I did not have all the answers when I started this podcast. I did not have all the answers when I started letter writing. I did not have all the answers when I started coaching right, no way. But taking the action and going forward builds your confidence that you need Five.

Speaker 1: 13:32

Act like you belong because you do. Confidence isn't a feeling, it's really a choice and it comes from within. So when you walk into the room, act like you deserve to be there because you actually do, take the chance and stop playing small. So what's it going to be? Are you going to keep letting your self-doubt hold you back, or are you going to trust that you have what it takes to make that dream a reality, because opportunities are knocking. The vision you have for your life is not on accident. It's a calling, that little thing you have in your gut that you've always thought about doing. Do it, do it. You know that job that you were scared to apply for. Just do it. That business idea that lights you up. Chase it that relationship that feels too good to be true. Believe that you deserve it, because the truth is, if you weren't capable, the vision wouldn't have been given to you in the first place.

Speaker 1: 15:22

I have two book recommendations that I'm going to suggest you get. One is the Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Valerie Young. She has a powerful look at imposter syndrome and how high achievers can overcome it. And two, presence by Amy Cuddy. In that book, she teaches you how to learn, teaches you to learn how to boost confidence and trust in yourself in high stakes situations. So those would be both two good books, and I will drop links to those books in the show notes.

Speaker 1: 16:00

Okay, my friend, that's a wrap for today's episode of Unleash your Inner Radiance. That's a wrap for today's episode of Unleash your Inner Radiance. If this episode resonated with you and I know it probably resonated with a lot of people can you please share it with someone else who needs to hear it? And don't forget to hit the subscribe button so that you never miss a Monday Mindset episode. Remember you belong here. You already have what it takes. Now it's time to stop and start believing. So stop doubting yourself and start believing in yourself. Until next time, keep shining, keep growing and unleash that inner badass. You've got this.