16 Oct Imposter Syndrome : Real Feelings, Misunderstood Label.
The term “imposter syndrome” was coined in the 1970s to describe high achievers who struggled to believe in their own success. They felt like frauds, convinced they’d somehow fooled everyone into thinking they were capable.
Over time, that idea spread and became shorthand for any kind of self-doubt. Whenever we feel uncertain or out of our depth, we tell ourselves we “have” imposter syndrome. I hear people identify with it all the time. They see traits of it in themselves and use it as an explanation for their self-doubt.
But I feel strongly that we need to reframe this and that the label might be doing more harm than good. Here’s why.
Self-doubt is a normal human emotion, a natural response to doing something new or meaningful. There’s no official diagnosis for imposter syndrome. It’s not something you have, imposter feelings are something you feel.
When we label doubt as a syndrome, we send ourselves the message that it’s wrong to feel uncertain, that there’s something broken in us for not feeling confident all the time.
In reality, uncertainty usually means we care about what we’re doing. We’re stretching ourselves. We’re growing. When we mistake that for a flaw, we end up trying to fix the thing that helps us expand.
When people say, “I have imposter syndrome,” what they often mean is “I don’t feel good enough.” But giving that feeling a clinical name makes it heavier than it needs to be. It turns a passing thought into part of our identity. We stop seeing doubt as part of the process and start seeing ourselves as the problem.
Ironically, the people who talk most about imposter syndrome are usually the ones who are not imposters at all. They’re often conscientious and hugely committed to what they do. Often, they just haven’t learned to trust themselves through the discomfort of growth.
Because that’s what imposter feelings really are, the tension between where you are and what you’re learning to do. When we step into something new, our mind tries to protect us from risk. There’s a voice that can say, “Who do you think you are?” Your brain doesn’t love change and so it tries to keep you safe.
You don’t have imposter syndrome. You have self-awareness and you care enough to want to do well.
So next time your mind says, “You’re an imposter” remind yourself:
“I’m growing, I’m learning and doubt is a natural part of growth.”
And remember, confidence is not the absence of doubt.
It’s the choice to keep showing up anyway.