what if THe Impostor syndrome is right?

Impostor syndrome is a persistent feeling that we don’t deserve our accomplishments and that we have somehow tricked others into believing we are competent, and it is only a matter of time before we are exposed as frauds. It is a familiar sensation for many, especially in environments where success is highly visible and the pressure to perform is intense. We label it a psychological issue, a flaw in our thinking, something to be overcome so we can finally embrace our worth. But what if this nagging feeling of being an impostor isn’t entirely wrong? What if, deep down, it’s pointing to a truth we’re reluctant to face?

Consider the possibility that the version of ourselves we present to the world is, in some ways, a constructed one. From a young age, we learn to adapt, to fit in, to shape our identities based on the expectations of those around us—parents, teachers, peers, society at large. We absorb messages about what is valued and what is not, and we adjust accordingly. Over time, we become experts at putting on the right face, saying the right things, and performing the roles that earn us approval. This isn’t necessarily a conscious or malicious act; it’s a survival mechanism, a way to navigate a world that rewards conformity and punishes deviation.

But in the process of this adaptation, something essential may be lost. Our true selves, with all their complexity, contradictions, and vulnerabilities, can become buried beneath the layers of our constructed identities. We begin to live out a version of ourselves that is, to some extent, a facade. And the voice of impostor syndrome might be the part of us that recognizes this dissonance, that feels the gap between who we are and who we’re pretending to be.

Rather than dismissing this inner voice as a defect, we might benefit from listening to it more closely. It could be signaling that there’s a disconnect between our authentic selves and the personas we’ve adopted. This disconnect doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re dishonest or inauthentic in a malicious way; it might simply reflect the compromises we’ve made in order to belong, to succeed, to survive in a world that often demands we be something other than what we truly are. But again, what do I know?

But just for the fun of things, the next time you have this Imposter syndrome sensation, ask yourself where it is really coming from and if it has some advice of value to bring to you… Good luck!