What is Imposter Syndrome?

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is that sneaky feeling that tells you:
"You’re not good enough. You’re just lucky. Sooner or later, everyone’s going to find out you’re a fraud."

And even when you’re crushing it—achieving goals, getting recognized—you still feel like you don't truly deserve your success.

You're not alone.

Back in 1978, two psychologists, Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, first described this experience when they noticed a pattern:
High-achieving women, despite clear evidence of their success, kept doubting themselves.
They couldn't fully own their achievements, and deep down, they felt like frauds.

This was the beginning of what we now call Imposter Syndrome.

(Reference: Clance & Imes, 1978, The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women.)

How Imposter Syndrome Shows Up

It’s not just something that happens in your career.
It can show up everywhere:

  • At work (avoiding promotions, not speaking up, overworking to “prove” yourself)
  • In relationships (struggling to be vulnerable or fearing you're "not enough")
  • In creativity and leadership (holding back from launching, leading, or being fully seen)

According to a major review of studies covering over 14,000 people, between 9% and 82% of individuals will experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. (Bravata et al., 2020)

It doesn't matter how successful you are—if the story in your mind says "you don’t belong," it impacts everything you try to build.

Big Names, Same Feelings

Even some of the most influential leaders have spoken openly about feeling like imposters:

  • Michelle Obama said:

    "I still have a little imposter syndrome... It doesn't go away, that feeling that you shouldn't take me that seriously."

  • Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook, admitted:

    "There are still days when I wake up feeling like a fraud, not sure I should be where I am."

If they feel it, it's proof: imposter syndrome doesn't discriminate.

Where It Really Comes From

Imposter syndrome isn’t a personality flaw.
It usually traces back to things like:

  • Early messages you picked up about success, love, or perfection
  • Cultural or social expectations that made you feel like you had to work twice as hard to prove yourself
  • Hidden rules you wrote in childhood just to survive or belong

Over time, those old survival strategies turn into internal scripts that say:
"I have to hustle for my worth."
"I'm only as good as my latest achievement."
"One mistake, and they'll see the real me—and reject me."

And those scripts start running your life...until you decide to write a new one.

Rewrite the Story. Reclaim Your Power.

Here's what I know for sure:

  • You don’t have to "fix yourself" to feel worthy.
  • You don’t have to hustle harder to feel legitimate.
  • You don't need to wait for someone else to validate your value.

You need a new story.

That's where real transformation begins—and that's what I help people create.

Because when you change the story you’re living inside, you change your life.

References:

  • Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention.
  • Bravata, D. M., et al. (2020). Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: A Systematic Review.