Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Have you ever sat at your desk, surrounded by coworkers who seem to know exactly what they’re doing, and thought… “How did I get here?”
Or worse, “When are they going to figure out I have no idea what I’m doing?”

Yeah. That’s imposter syndrome.

First off, hear me say this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Even the most successful people can feel like they don’t belong. Especially when you are freshly out of college and getting into your career, imposter syndrome can be particularly powerful in making you feel stuck in your 20s. But overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t about suddenly feeling confident or having all the answers. It’s not about being the best at what you do or even about being good at all! It’s about adopting two simple mindsets that change how you see yourself:

1. You were chosen for this role.
2. You’re allowed to be a humble learner.

Let’s talk about how those two ideas can completely reframe your experience and help you stop feeling like a fraud.

1. You Were Chosen for This Role

You didn’t accidentally end up here. You didn’t con your way into your job or your internship or your leadership position. You were chosen.

Someone—probably multiple someones—looked at your application, your interview, your energy, your experience, and said, “That’s the one.” They believed you could do it.

Overcoming imposter syndrome starts with remembering that simple truth. You were selected for a reason. You did what you needed to do to get here. You showed enough potential, skill, and character that someone trusted you with responsibility.

You might still feel unqualified. But here’s the thing: almost everyone feels that way at the start. In fact, research from MIT suggests that imposter syndrome is often misunderstood. Most people who experience it are actually high performers who care deeply about doing well. And the people who seem confident now? They felt lost too. They just stuck around long enough for their experience to catch up to their opportunity.

So when those “you don’t belong here” thoughts come creeping in, try telling yourself this instead:

“I was chosen for this. I’ve earned my seat at the table. Now I’m just learning how to use it well.”

That one mental shift doesn’t erase the nerves, but it puts them in perspective. You’re not an imposter, you’re an invited guest who’s still figuring out where the forks go.

2. Be a Humble Learner

Here’s the other mindset that makes overcoming imposter syndrome a lot easier: stop pretending you should already know everything.

You’re new. You’re learning. That’s literally what you’re supposed to be doing.

Think about it: how do people who “know what they’re doing” get that way? They didn’t just appear fully formed with confidence and clarity. They got there by trying, failing, asking questions, and doing the uncomfortable work of getting better.

The biggest hindrance to overcoming imposter syndrome is believing that mistakes are proof you don’t belong. But in reality, mistakes are how you earn belonging. Every error, every awkward question, every “oh crap I didn’t know that” moment is a step forward.

So instead of trying to fake competence, adopt the mindset of a humble learner. Use phrases like:

• “I’m not sure how to do that yet. Would you be willing to show me?”
• “Thanks for catching that — I’ll make sure to learn from it.”
• “That’s new to me, but I’m excited to figure it out.”

Or even simpler: remind yourself, “I am brave enough to be a beginner.”

That sentence alone takes the shame out of not knowing something and turns it into courage. It reminds you that growth is always brave work. And everyone who’s great at what they do started exactly where you are now.

(One of the best ways to stay grounded in that mindset is through journaling. I wrote more about that in this post on journaling and reflection
if you want a practical way to build confidence and track your growth.)

Allow Yourself to Be a Beginner

Here’s a thought experiment: imagine a brand-new musician learning guitar.

Would you ever tell them, “Wow, you sound terrible. You clearly don’t belong here”? Of course not. You’d tell them, “Keep going. That’s how everyone starts.”

So why do we treat ourselves differently when it comes to work?

You’re learning your craft. Whether it’s teaching, marketing, counseling, engineering, management, or anything else. You’re still in the “playing boring scales” phase. The goal right now isn’t to be flawless. It’s to keep showing up, keep practicing, and keep making fewer mistakes over time.

That’s literally what growth looks like.

Overcoming imposter syndrome is really about permission. Permission to learn. Permission to mess up. Permission to be in progress instead of pretending to be finished.

The Truth About Confidence

Most people think confidence comes before success — that if they could just feel confident, they’d finally perform well. But it’s actually the other way around.

Confidence is the result of showing up, trying, failing, learning, and repeating. It’s the accumulation of small wins, the comfort that grows from experience.

If you’re feeling like an imposter right now, that’s not a sign that you don’t belong. It’s a sign that you’re growing into something new. Every time you take a risk, ask for help, or try again after a mistake, you’re building the confidence you’re looking for.

That’s why overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence. It’s about staying in the room long enough to prove to yourself what everyone else already saw in you.

Let Go of the Comparison Trap

One of the sneakiest and most difficult parts of overcoming imposter syndrome is comparison. You look around and see people who seem more confident, more competent, more “together.”

But here’s the thing — they’re comparing themselves too. Everyone is quietly worried that they’re the one who doesn’t measure up.

The only difference is that some people have learned to reframe it. They know their worth isn’t tied to knowing everything. They understand that everyone’s on their own timeline.

You can start doing that too. When you catch yourself comparing, remind yourself:

“They’re just further along in their learning curve. I’m on mine. And that’s okay.”

That simple mindset shift can change everything about how you show up.

The Mindset That Destroys Imposter Syndrome

When you combine these two ideas — I was chosen for this and I’m a humble learner — imposter syndrome loses its power.

You stop seeing yourself as an outsider pretending to belong and start seeing yourself as a developing professional who’s earning their confidence through effort.

Overcoming imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’ll never feel doubt again. It means you’ll know what to do when it shows up. You’ll remind yourself:

“I was chosen for this.”

“I’m learning and growing, and that’s enough right now.”

And then you’ll get back to work. You may still be a little uncertain, but you stay grounded in the truth that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in your 20s, it’s easy to feel like everyone else has it figured out. But the truth is, no one really does. We’re all just learning, adjusting, and attempting to be confident until the real thing shows up.

You don’t have to eliminate your doubts to move forward. You just have to keep moving with them.

Overcoming imposter syndrome starts with remembering that you were chosen and giving yourself permission to be new. You’re not behind. You’re just beginning your version of mastery.

So breathe. Learn. Keep showing up.
You’re doing better than you think.