How to Deal with Imposter Syndrome

“I have written 11 books, but each time I think, ‘uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.” — Maya Angelou

It’s a quiet thought that sneaks in at the edges:
“I don’t really belong here.”
“They’re going to realise I’m not as good as they think.”

If you’ve ever felt like a fraud—despite your qualifications, your hard work, your very real achievements—you’re not alone. That feeling has a name: imposter syndrome. And even though it feels isolating, it’s surprisingly common—especially among high-achievers, creatives, educators, and leaders.

Some of the most respected voices of our time have spoken openly about this doubt. Meryl Streep, Michelle Obama, Albert Einstein, Agatha Christie, Jodie Foster—the list is long and surprising. People who, from the outside, appear untouchably confident. But on the inside, they too have asked, “What if I’m just pretending?”

So, if you’ve ever felt this way, take comfort: self-doubt is not a flaw in your character. It’s part of being human. And there are ways to meet it with compassion rather than criticism.

The first step is noticing

Imposter syndrome thrives in silence. It feeds off comparison, perfectionism, and the quiet belief that everyone else has it more together than you. The first act of resistance is simply to say: “This is what I’m feeling. And it’s okay.”

Naming it doesn’t solve it immediately—but it gives you distance. It helps you see the doubt for what it is: a pattern, not a truth.

You’ve done more than you think

Self-doubt has a way of erasing our accomplishments. We dismiss our progress, downplay our effort, and focus only on where we fell short. But confidence grows when we take time to remember—to consciously bring to mind the things we’ve done well.

This doesn’t have to be dramatic. Think of the small moments: the lesson that landed, the hard conversation you handled, the day you kept going when it would have been easier to give up. These are not minor wins. They are evidence of your resilience, skill, and care.

Reflecting on your achievements isn’t arrogance. It’s a quiet antidote to the inner critic.

You don’t have to do it alone

Imposter syndrome is a lonely experience—but it doesn't need to be. Sometimes, the most healing thing is to hear someone else say, “Me too.”
Talk to a colleague. A coach. A trusted friend.
Let someone hold up a mirror so you can see yourself more clearly—without distortion. Often, the people around us see our strengths more honestly than we do ourselves.

Support doesn’t have to come in the form of big advice. Sometimes, it’s just presence. Someone to remind you that you’re not failing—you’re growing.

Rewriting the script

Listen carefully to your inner voice. Is it full of shoulds and musts?
“I should have known this already.”
“I must always get it right.”
“I shouldn’t need help.”

These thoughts sound responsible, even virtuous. But they’re heavy—and often unrealistic. Try gently challenging them. Ask, “Who decided this should be true?” and “Would I speak to someone else this way?”

Replace the harshness with something softer. Not false positivity—but honesty with kindness.

Perfection isn’t the goal

So many of us link our worth to how flawless we appear. We become hyperaware of mistakes and terrified of being “found out.” But perfectionism is often just fear in disguise.

Mistakes are not proof you don’t belong. They’re part of being human.
And your imperfection is not a weakness—it’s what makes you real, relatable, and resilient.

Let yourself be seen—not as someone who always gets it right, but as someone who’s trying, learning, and showing up anyway.

A new way to measure enough

Confidence isn’t about eliminating doubt forever. It’s about changing your relationship to it. It’s about knowing that doubt may still visit—but it doesn’t get to drive.

The next time you hear that voice say, “Who do you think you are?”—try answering:
“Someone who’s doing their best. Someone who’s allowed to take up space.”

Because you are.

You’re not an imposter. You’re a person with a story, a journey, and a set of strengths that no one else has in quite the same way.

And that is more than enough.

“When you stop focusing on all the things you’re not... and start believing in everything that you are... something shifts.” — Malebo Sephodi