“Am I Even Good Enough?” Recognizing and Rewriting the Imposter Syndrome Script

"Literally everyone feels like and imposter at some point. Yes, even the people you look up to."

Have you ever found yourself staring at an email draft for 20 minutes, debating whether you sound like a total fraud? Or maybe you’ve been in a meeting and thought, “If I speak up, they’ll definitely realize I have no idea what I’m doing.” Because I’ve been there more times than I care to admit.

That, my friend, is imposter syndrome—a sneaky little pest that likes to tell us we’re not good enough, even when we’re absolutely crushing it. And guess what? You’re not the only one who feels this way. I’ve been duking it out with imposter syndrome for years—from navigating a 20+ year career in the ridiculously subjective music industry to launching a coaching business during a global pandemic (cue all the “What was I thinking?” moments).

But here’s what I’ve learned: imposter syndrome isn’t a sign that you’re not good enough. It’s just your brain being overprotective, like an overbearing aunt at Thanksgiving who insists you’re not ready for the grown-up table. The trick is recognizing it, understanding it, and then rewriting the story it’s trying to tell.

How to Spot Those Sneaky Thoughts

Imposter syndrome likes to sneak in disguised as logical thoughts. It sounds like:

• “I don’t belong here.”

• “Everyone else knows what they’re doing, and I’m just winging it.”

• “I only got this opportunity because they haven’t figured out I’m a fraud yet.”

Sound familiar? Same. These thoughts feel so real, but they’re just your brain’s way of keeping you in your comfort zone. Your brain loves comfort zones—even if that comfort zone is filled with self-doubt and Netflix binges.

Rewriting the Imposter Syndrome Script

The good news? You don’t have to believe everything you think. Here’s how you can start flipping the script:

1. Recognize When It Shows Up The first step is just noticing when imposter syndrome is rearing its ugly head. Maybe it’s when you’re trying something new or stepping into a bigger role. That’s your cue to pause and take a breath.

2. Call It Out Say it with me: “Oh hey, imposter syndrome. I see you.” Just acknowledging it can take away some of its power. (Bonus points if you picture it as a grumpy cartoon character trying to hold you back.)

3. Rewrite the Thought Instead of, “I’m not good enough,” try, “I’m learning, and that’s more than enough.” Instead of, “I don’t deserve this,” remind yourself, “I worked hard for this, and I belong here.”

4. Be Okay with Being New Let’s face it: nobody starts out as an expert. We’ve all been the awkward beginner at some point. (Seriously, ask me about my first attempts at public speaking. Spoiler: they were rough.) Confidence comes from doing, not from knowing everything upfront.

You’re Not Alone

Here’s the thing: literally everyone feels like an imposter at some point. Yes, even the people you look up to—those ultra-confident, got-it-all-together types? They’ve been there too. The key isn’t avoiding those feelings; it’s learning to move through them.

For me, that’s looked like standing backstage before a show, panicking that my voice would crack on the high note. Or launching my coaching business and wondering if anyone would actually sign up. (Spoiler alert: they did.) The magic happened because I kept going, even when I wasn’t sure of myself.

Turning Self-Doubt into Your Superpower

Next time imposter syndrome sneaks up, here’s what you can do:

• Thank Your Brain – Yep, thank it for trying to protect you. It’s just doing its job, even if it’s being overdramatic about it.

• Remind Yourself – You’re stepping out of your comfort zone, which means you’re growing. Growth is uncomfortable but oh-so-worth it.

• Keep Going – Take the next step, even if it’s messy or imperfect. Confidence comes from action, not waiting for everything to feel easy.

You are so much more capable than you give yourself credit for. Imposter syndrome might pop up from time to time, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. The next time that little voice asks, “Am I even good enough?”, you can smile and say, “Oh, I’m way more than good enough. Watch me.”

Written by the team at A Higher Way Of Living