Let's Talk Wellness: Imposter Syndrome

It’s March! My favorite month for multiple reasons: it’s my birthday, spring is coming, and flowers are popping up again! 

But this year, March feels different.

Recently, I was talking with a friend and explaining all the reasons I “wasn’t ready” to do something. She paused and said, “That’s imposter syndrome speaking.”

And she was right…it wasn’t me being realistic, it was imposter syndrome.

So this month, we’re talking about imposter syndrome, what it actually is, why it shows up (especially for capable women), and how to move forward even when it’s loud.

I sat down with Ali Goodin, Life & Career Coach, to break it down and give us practical ways to shift it.

Let’s get into it!

Shaina: How did you get into the work you do as a life and career coach?

Ali: It actually started thanks to my graphic design career at Disney! While I was there from 2014-2020, I worked in over 20 different design capacities and got to experience many different lines of business and people. 

Because of all of that movement (career transitioning), I was able to interface with all sorts of employees who needed support and development/mentorship. I ended up starting and managing two professional development programs over a 5-year period, where I coached over 200 professionals, and I did it all in addition to my paid design job. 

Ali Goodin, Life & Career Coach

Then, with the 2020 pandemic, my role was eliminated, but I had already taken all of my organic experience and started a coaching certification; the universe was basically saying, now is your time!

Here I am 6 years later :)  

Shaina: Amazing, it’s always so cool to see how our experiences help shape what’s coming next!

Let’s start with the basics: how do you define imposter syndrome?

Ali: To put it simply, I believe imposter syndrome is a form of a limiting belief: the consistent lack of belief in oneself, whether personal or professional.

It comes from a series of life experiences that encourage the belief’s existence.

Shaina: Why do you think capable or high-achieving people experience it so often?

Ali: From my own personal experience, high-achievers experience imposter syndrome often because achieving outcomes/results is something they require in order to feel validation and success. If this requirement isn’t met consistently, it generates imposter syndrome.

Shaina: How can someone tell the difference between imposter syndrome and actually lacking readiness?

Ali: I think the primary difference is in each one’s longevity. Imposter syndrome is habitual/recurring, lacking readiness is situational/non-recurring.

Shaina: That’s such a helpful distinction, one is recurring, and one is situational. So many of us recognize these patterns, but still hesitate to act. If someone is waiting to feel confident before acting, what’s a small shift they can make to move forward anyway?

Ali: Invite another trusted perspective into the conversation. This could be a family member, friend, colleague, coach (hi!) - anyone who can offer a compassionate, listening ear and who can playback what they hear you reflect on. 

Shaina: I love the idea of inviting another perspective in (especially a trusted one). Once someone takes that first step, how can they start building internal evidence that they’re actually capable?

Ali: Keep a hand-written record of your evidence daily, from small moments (e.g. I was so proud that I committed to showing up presently for all of my meetings) to the bigger ones (e.g. I spoke to my boss about setting workload boundaries and they acknowledged my need for help).

Shaina: I love that! I do something similar and call it my Brag List, where I write down things I’ve done, and I’ve also put some messages from friends in there. It’s been so helpful to use when I’m beating myself up more than normal.

And for those moments when the inner critic is especially loud, what’s something we can do?

Ali: I actually use a tool called Voice Dialogue to allow the inner critic (whether it’s a form of fear, doubt, or insecurity) to speak with its direct opposite (e.g. freedom, confidence, etc) as if we were all seated together over coffee.

Instead of quieting an inner critic, allowing its voice to be heard is SO important because then we’re not denying its existence, but rather facing it and helping it to evolve into something more productive/supportive.

Shaina: That’s a great tool, and something I think we forget about. We so often just want to steamroll over it, but leaving room to talk with it is so smart! If you could leave readers with one truth about imposter syndrome, what would it be?

Ali: I wish we could reframe the language around imposter syndrome to avoid the “syndrome” language.

Syndrome makes it sound like there’s an inability to change or deficiency, when in reality, imposter syndrome has all the opportunity in the world to change, adapt, and evolve so long as we’re aware of its existence and have the appropriate tools to transform it into something self-serving.

Final Takeaway

What I loved most about this conversation is the reminder that imposter syndrome isn’t a diagnosis, it’s a pattern. And patterns can shift.

It’s not proof you’re unqualified.

It’s not evidence that you shouldn’t try.

It’s just a voice that needs better tools.

Ali, thank you so much for reminding us that awareness plus action is what creates change.

If this conversation resonated with you, you can connect with Ali at her website and on LinkedIn!

And if imposter syndrome has been keeping you stuck in your health, your goals, or your confidence…maybe this is your month to take one small step anyway.

Spring energy is coming. You don’t have to wait until you “feel ready” to start 🫶