Promoted, Praised, and Still Panicking? How To Beat Imposter Syndrome and Stay Productive
Hey Besties!
Productivity advice just doesn’t hit the same when you’re secretly convinced you don’t belong in the room. Oh yes, you know what I’m talking about — that voice in your head that says you’re not qualified, not consistent enough, or not serious enough. That you’re just “faking it” and eventually someone will find out. That’s imposter syndrome. And it doesn’t just kill your confidence — it hijacks your ability to get anything done.
I may have been a professional imposter at one point, and i’ve learned so much since those days. I was (and still am) living with Fibromyalgia, along with my depression, I couldn’t understand how I was accomplishing so much as a failure. I could easily list things like dropping out of university, or moving back in with my family, that supported this “i’m a failure” mindset. When I grew my business, I struggled for a long time to see how much value I gave my clients, and my colleagues, even when everyone else told me how lucky they were to have me. Why do some people still feel like they don’t belong — even after being praised or promoted?
Why It Hits Harder for Certain People
Imposter syndrome doesn’t just pop up out of nowhere. It grows in environments where you’ve been underestimated, overlooked, or expected to do more with less. If you’re neurodivergent, chronically ill, a first-gen success story, or someone who’s constantly had to prove their value — it makes sense that you’d internalize doubt.
And then you’re told to “just be confident” while no one talks about how heavy that self-doubt really is.
The Productivity Trap
You may try to hustle harder, take on more, bury yourself in tasks to feel like you’ve “earned” your spot. But here’s the gag — imposter syndrome doesn’t go away when you work harder. It goes away when you start believing that you’re already enough.
What Can Help
Name it. The moment you feel yourself spiraling — pause. That’s where DBT’s Check the Facts skill comes in. When your brain tells you, “I don’t deserve this,” you pause and ask:
What actually happened?
What are the facts — not assumptions or feelings?
Has anyone said I’m not qualified?
What evidence do I have that I am competent?
If a friend were in my place, would I believe they earned it?
Check the facts, not the fear.
Set your own standard. Ask: “What would enough look like today?” Not perfect. Not impressive. Just enough.
Track impact, not output. What did you actually shift for someone? What conversation did you open? What truth did you tell? That’s the work.
Build systems that hold you when your confidence drops. (This is why I made The Productivity Realignment Kit— to help you stay rooted when your mind tries to spin out.)
You don’t need to silence your self-doubt to get started. The real flex is learning to keep going with the fear. Because imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re not capable — it means you care. It means you’re stretching. It means you’re growing into something real. And if you’re navigating that right now, I see you. You’re not alone in this.
Want tools to stay grounded when self-doubt hits?
Check out the Productivity Realignment Kit below — made for nonlinear thinkers, creatives, and anyone doing the most while feeling like it’s still not enough. Let’s build systems that actually support us. No more proving, just doing.
— LuLu 🩷
