Imposter Syndrome Isn’t a Sign You’re Failing, It’s a Sign You’re Growing

Have you ever felt like you’re pretending your way through life, like one day, someone will “find out” you’re not as capable as you seem?

That feeling has a name: imposter syndrome. And the truth is, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. Often, it means you’re stretching, growing, and stepping into something new.

I know this firsthand. A recent conversation with an old friend reminded me how visible this pattern is in my life. He remembered me during my master’s, anxious, unsure, and constantly in my head. And now, he sees someone who appears confident, someone who seems to throw herself into things fearlessly.

But the truth? Confidence didn’t come first. Fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome were still there. I simply learned how to move with it.

What Imposter Syndrome Really Is

Psychologically, imposter syndrome is a pattern of self-doubt. It shows up as:

• Attributing success to luck or external factors

• Downplaying your competence

• Fearing exposure as “not good enough”

Neuroscience helps explain why this happens. Your brain’s primary job is survival, not self-belief. When you step into something new; a role, identity, or level of visibility, your nervous system registers novelty. Novelty can feel unsafe.

Your brain then:

• Scans for mistakes

• Heightens self-monitoring

• Becomes hyper-critical

This is why imposter syndrome often appears after growth, not before it. You don’t feel like an imposter because you’re incapable — you feel like one because your system hasn’t yet gathered enough evidence of safety.

“Feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re stretching beyond what’s familiar.”

Why Confidence Doesn’t Come First

Society often tells us: “Just believe in yourself” or “Be more confident”. But confidence isn’t a prerequisite, it’s a by-product.

Psychology calls this self-efficacy: your belief in your ability to handle challenges. Self-efficacy grows when you:

• Try

• Survive

• Reflect

• Repeat

Not when you wait for fear to disappear.

The sequence looks like this:

Action → Evidence → Belief → Confidence

Most of us try to reverse it:

“Once I feel confident, I’ll do it.”

But the brain needs proof, not promises.

My Sales Journey: Belief Built Through Action

When I started in sales, I didn’t take the job because I felt capable. I took it because my confidence was so low. I felt like a shell of myself.

My coaches told me:

“We’re going to believe in you until you believe in yourself.”

At first, it felt strange, even uncomfortable. But that “borrowed belief” gave me safety to take action, even before I trusted myself fully.

I didn’t suddenly feel fearless. I didn’t suddenly feel ready. But each small action, each surviving experience, slowly built belief from the inside out.

How I Built Belief: Practical Tools

Here are some methods that helped me shift imposter syndrome into action and self-trust:

1. Stack Small Wins

• Reflect daily on one thing that went well.

• Over time, these small wins provide undeniable evidence of competence.

2. The Impact Folder

• Screenshots of praise, achievements, and milestones.

• When self-doubt hits, review the folder. Your brain responds to evidence, not reassurance alone.

3. Borrow Perspective

• Ask a trusted person: “What do you see as my strengths?”

• External perspectives are a starting point, not a crutch.

4. Take Action with Fear Present

• Use Mel Robbins’ 5-second rule: count 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… and act.

• When sharing something publicly or being visible, post it and step away from overthinking. Go for a walk, breathe, reset.

• Overthinking amplifies nervous system threat signals; action + regulation teaches your brain safety.

Reflection Prompts

• What’s one area in your life where fear has been holding you back?

• What small, repeatable action could you take today to start building evidence for yourself?

• Who can help you “mirror” your strengths when self-doubt is loud?

Take a moment to journal on these questions, it’s one of the simplest ways to begin retraining your nervous system around belief.

Reframing Imposter Syndrome

Feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you’re growing.

That anxious version of yourself?
They’re not failing. They’re becoming.

“Confidence isn’t the absence of fear. It’s courage in motion — moving even when fear is present.”

Take action, stack your evidence, and let belief catch up.

Want to go deeper?

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode where I share more of my story, the science behind imposter syndrome, and additional tools to build belief