"Who do you think you are? You don’t have the skills. What if you cause harm? You’re nothing better than a simple builder."
During a workshop for over 500 forestry workers in Canada, I had a mild panic attack.
At the end of every presentation, I guide the audience through a breathing technique with their eyes closed. Halfway through, I stop counting, and they continue on their own.
Three years into my consultancy and coaching business, with a Master of Arts and two Diplomas in Human Behaviour through neuroscience, I looked up at the audience and felt a rush of self-doubt.
After my presentation, the conference organiser said, "You hit that out of the ballpark."
But self-doubt persisted. "Did I really? Was everyone helped? Did I cause harm?"
Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where we doubt our accomplishments and fear being exposed as frauds.
Despite success, we often feel undeserving, attributing achievements to luck or external factors.
From a neuroscience perspective, imposter syndrome involves:
🧠 Elevated Cortisol Levels: Constant worry triggers the amygdala, releasing cortisol, leading to anxiety and health issues.
🧠 Reduced Neurotransmitter Levels: Low serotonin and dopamine levels affect mood and satisfaction.
🧠 Evolutionary Roots: Traits like social comparison and threat detection, once adaptive, now contribute to feelings of inadequacy.
Personal factors include:
👉 Perfectionism: Setting high standards and feeling like a failure when not met.
👉 Family Dynamics: Growing up with high achievement expectations or constant comparison.
👉 Work Environment: High-pressure jobs exacerbate feelings of inadequacy.
👉 Personality Traits: Anxiety, neuroticism, and low self-esteem are linked to imposter syndrome.
👉 Social Context: Being in a minority group or feeling different from peers.
To reduce imposter syndrome:
✔️ Recognize and Acknowledge: Understand it's common among high achievers.
✔️ Gather Evidence of Success: Keep a record of achievements and positive feedback.
✔️ Set Realistic Goals: Define success clearly and celebrate small victories.
✔️ Seek Support: Talk to mentors, colleagues, or friends about your feelings.
✔️ Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself; mistakes do not define your worth.
We all have feelings of self-doubt. You are not an imposter, it is your brain that is an imposter, so tell it to sit back down. You’ve got this.
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Imposter Syndrome!