Success on the outside, doubt on the inside – why do I still feel like an imposter?

On the outside everything looks perfect. 

You’re smashing your goals, you’re successful, everyone around you is celebrating you and giving you praise. 

Yet on the inside, there’s this nagging feeling of doubt – wondering whether you deserve it or wondering when the penny is going to drop and everyone is going to find out that you have no idea what you’re doing. 

You might have heard many people call this “imposter syndrome”, personally I think it’s time to ditch the label. 

What if this feeling of doubt that you’re feeling is less about feeling like an “imposter” and is part of something all humans experience? 

All of your hard work, skills and experiences is what got you to where you are right now so instead of identifying with a label, view your self doubt as something very normal that arises with growth and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. 

Let’s explore 5 actionable ways that you can implement straight away to remove self doubt so you can feel more confident: 

Acknowledge that it’s there, then reframe it. 

Doubt is not a sign of weakness or being a fraud, it’s what all humans experience when they are stretching their capabilities – it is quite literally a natural response. We’ve all been there.

Reframe it as a signal that you are challenging yourself, getting outside the confines of your comfort zone, stepping into something new that pushes your edges, which is a part of the growth process. 

Put it into action: Whenever doubt creeps in, grab out your phone, journal, notepad whatever works for you and start journaling. Write down what is coming up for you that is making you feel uncertain and then challenge it with the factual evidence of your accomplishments.

You’re successful, it’s time to own it. 

If you find yourself attributing your success to external factors like luck, timing, or something someone else has done to help you – I want you to stop. 

Start recognising the skills, dedication and effort that you’ve put into getting to where you are and own it. 

Put it into action: Create a list of 10 things that you’ve accomplished in the last year and the role you played in each of them (bonus points if you just keep going and add as many as you can think of) Keep this list handy to reflect on whenever the niggle of doubt resurfaces. 

Set goals for your growth, not validation. 

Shift your focus from seeking validation through external success to setting goals that foster personal growth. 

It’s easier to build confidence from within instead of relying on outside approval when your goals are aligned with your values. 

Put it into action: Reflect on your current goals and be honest with yourself – are they driven by your internal aspirations or your need for external validation? If they’re the latter, adjust them to align with your core values and personal growth. 

Surround yourself with people who will be honest with their feedback. 

When you get stuck in self doubt, it’s easy to isolate yourself from meaningful feedback, it’s just easier that way. 

Surround yourself with people who will give you honest, constructive feedback – they can remind you of your strengths and provide grounded advice to help you stay confident.

Put it into action: Reach out to a mentor, coach, friend or colleague who can give you honest feedback and encouragement when you need it most.

Show yourself a little more self compassion. 

Practice being kinder to yourself, it’s easy to beat yourself up when things don’t go exactly as planned but remember there is no such thing as “perfect”. 

Instead of focusing on your mistakes, celebrate your effort and dedication – showing yourself more self compassion builds resilience and confidence over time. 

Put it into action: Practice self compassion by speaking to yourself the same way you would a friend who was experiencing self doubt, you could even practice by writing a letter to yourself as if you were writing to your friend. Think about what you would say to uplift and encourage them?

Self doubt will continue to niggle at you but it doesn’t mean you’re an imposter – you’ve earned your success. 

Reframing your mindset and implementing one or all of the above strategies, you can start to let go of the doubts that hinder your progress and step into confidence. 

Doubt is normal, it doesn’t define you.