Imposter syndrome is that sneaky little voice in your head, questioning if you are genuine.

“Sara told me that you are a college professor,” a friend mentioned to me one-day. The words were unfamiliar to my ears. I had been working in higher education as a part-time remote adjunct for over 10 years, yet the title of professor felt deceptive.

The label I felt more comfortable with, was that of a stay-at-home mom, my full-time job.

When anyone called me professor or identified me as a college professor, it felt dishonest. It didn’t really indicate who I truly was when the majority of my time was not spent digesting ideas with colleagues, but rather changing diapers and cleaning up messes. Yet, I was regularly addressed as professor in my working life.

Imposter syndrome is when you feel like a fraud. It is often related to career achievements that you feel unqualified for despite having a proficient skill set.

Others value your qualifications and on paper you meet the requirements, but internally, you feel insufficient. In short, it feels like you are lying about who you are and need to hide your true self.

Imposter syndrome relies on an automatic script you can change.

When you believe you are deceiving others, despite extensive skills, it originates from a biased place–your personal beliefs. It is impossible to have an unbiased self-view.  Your perception is often a consequence of learned behavior, as well as a lack of self-belief. You see and focus on the weakest parts of yourself and believe others will uncover the truth.

Past experience has guided how you now speak to yourself. This internal dialogue plays a significant role in imposter syndrome and the concern that you will be found out.

The truth is, everyone has both weaknesses and strengths. Regardless of how it may appear, or their position, no one is free of flaws. Despite any personal inadequacies, you have expertise as well and are capable of contributing to the world around you. The deficiencies in your skill set do not negate your capabilities.

The key to overcoming negative mental scripts is to reframe your inner voice. It relies on greater honesty. When you are only focused on and speaking to yourself about your deficiencies you are deceiving yourself and undermining your strengths and potential.

Change your inner voice and it will in turn alter your apprehension.

Turn, “I don’t know enough,” into “I’m still learning, but will put the work in to grow.

Change “I’m going to be found out,” into “I can be my authentic self and admit when I don’t know something, and contribute when I can.”

The way you converse with yourself matters. Speaking in an encouraging and honest manner thwarts the inner critic, encouraging the inner learner and achiever.

Imposter syndrome is normal.

It may feel like everyone else is well suited to be working in the position they hold, and you somehow snuck your way in. When you are pushing yourself to the upper limits of your capacity you will feel uncomfortable and insecure for a time.

In the late 1920’s Psychologist Lev Vygotsky developed the idea of a zone of proximal development (ZPD) to explain children’s learning. This concept is equally applicable to adults.

The ZPD refers to an area where learning is optimal. Here you succeed in building and mastering skills based upon the knowledge and skill base you have already acquired. However, you are unable to do this independently. In this region of the learning sector you require help and instruction from a more knowledgeable mentor. Failure along the way is likely.

To learn within the ZPD you have to push yourself beyond where you feel secure. Below the ZPD you are capable of acquiring mastery of new skills on your own. It’s quite safe, but not optimal for learning.

If you are suffering from imposter syndrome and feeling anxiety or uncertainty, it is likely because you are developing skills at the highest level of the zone of proximal development. This is where the greatest potential for progress resides. It is a good place to be.

Imposter syndrome means you are growing.

Growth is unnerving. If you are comfortable where you are, you aren’t progressing.

When you self-doubt or fear, as with imposter syndrome, you are in a position to grow. The great news about this is that it leads to progress and increased skills development if you push through the discomfort and set aside self-defeating feelings. Pushing past the intolerable learning curve unveils your potential.

Unfortunately, the insecurity you feel may lead to a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. (Click here for a great way to manage anxiety). These emotions can sabotage your progress. Remembering that these uncomfortable feelings are an indication of a high growth period, can help you push through the doubt

Instead of seeing imposter syndrome as a sign that you are not enough, or a fraud, view the uncertainty as a manifestation that you are about to push through the limits of your learning capabilities.

Imposter syndrome is primarily a matter of labels.

Humans are natural labelers. (Learn more about that here). Labeling gives us a sense of order and knowing. Unfortunately, humans mislabel–sometimes pretty badly. This has significant consequences. If you are feeling like an imposter and label yourself as a fraud, that is exactly how you will ultimately behave.

James Clear wrote a compelling book called Atomic Habits.

One of the many pieces of excellent advice he gives is to label yourself as the person you seek to become. Then think about how that type of person would behave and follow that direction.

If you want to be healthy–think about what a healthy person would choose and then do the same. Identify yourself as if you are healthy. I am healthy, I go on a walk every day and drink lots of water.

Likewise, in whatever position you hold or seek, identify yourself in that manner. If you aren’t sure how to act, implement the behavior of how you presume someone in your position would behave.

Instead of identifying yourself as an imposter, change that label. Whatever the goal is you are working towards, identify yourself in that way. This will lead to an instilled belief. Pay attention to the habits and traits of others in the position you seek. Apply those habits and traits to yourself.

The mind has tremendous power to alter how you view yourself and in turn how you feel about yourself. You have the potential to succeed if you can get past the mental block.

The bad news is, you are almost certain to have some failures.

When you get knocked down, learn and then try again.

Years ago, I was in a terrible horse accident. I ended up with rib contusions, 18 staples in my head despite having a helmet on, and a total loss of any memory surrounding the event. But horses were my passion.

It had been months, but I had to get back on.

My 5-year-old mustang patiently waited for me in her corral, day after day, while I recovered physically. Mentally recovering was another issue entirely. She was not the horse I had my accident on. That horse was supposedly a well-trained kids’ horse. (Mis-labeled!)

After the accident, doubts swirled in my mind. Who did I think I was? I was no horse trainer. I was not a professional rider.

But, it was time to get back on.

My only option to get “back in the saddle” was with my young, green mustang. I had put several rides on her, but she was by no means a bomb proof horse and it had been quite awhile since she had last been ridden.

Our first ride had not been calm. It had been full of bolts and spins. The memories swirled in my head. What if she exploded again?

After my accident I put time in on the ground and spent hours reminding her of what it felt like to have someone in the saddle. From the edge of the corral I would swing my leg over her and spend time with my weight in the saddle.

As I healed physically, I spent hours studying training methods and trying to ascertain what had gone wrong using what little I did know of the accident.

Now, I had done everything I could to prepare, up to the point of mounting from the ground.

Regardless and despite doubts swirling in my head, I stood on the ground, one foot in the stirrup of my mustang’s saddle.

I shook as I began to pull myself up.

Terrified, I swung my leg over the saddle.

As my body landed in the saddle, I braced myself. I was shaking. I’m sure my mustang sensed it all.

And she stood perfectly still.

I took deep breaths. We moved forward. I felt slightly more comfortable, despite still being incredibly nervous. She had confidence in me, even though mine was lacking at the time.

We walked around and as my nerves calmed and I regained confidence.

In the end, the ride was uneventful, but an absolutely critical step in moving forward.

When you do the work ahead of time to prepare, you can take those terrifying, but critical steps ahead.

You don’t have to know everything.

Just because you don’t know everything right now, doesn’t mean you are an imposter. But, you do need to be willing to learn.

Be honest with yourself, both in where you are proficient and where you need to put forth extra effort. Admitting when you don’t know something and being willing to fill the gap is one of the bravest steps you can take towards self improvement.

The only thing imposter syndrome says about you, is that you are incorrectly framing your view of yourself. You don’t know everything and you will not always succeed. That does not negate your expertise and potential.

When others are taking the chance to believe in yourself, no doubt through achievements which have nourished that view, be brave enough to put equal faith in your abilities.

If you are experiencing imposter syndrome, congratulate yourself! You are at a critical growth point. Keep pushing forward.