My husband just shared a CNN article about Justin Bieber that stopped me in my tracks. In a raw and honest social media post, the global superstar opened up about feeling unworthy despite his massive success - and it perfectly captures the imposter syndrome I hear from my clients every day.
"Like I was a fraud," Bieber wrote. "Like when people told me I deserve something. It made me feel sneaky like damn if they only knew my thoughts." He went on to share his inner struggles with being judgmental and selfish, admitting that most days he feels "unequipped and unqualified."
Reading his words, I couldn't help but think of the countless conversations I've had in my practice with successful, accomplished women who carry these exact same impostor feelings. Have you ever struggled with imposter syndrome despite your achievements? That persistent self-doubt that makes you feel like a fraud, certain that somehow you've managed to fool everyone around you, but deep down you're certain you don't deserve the praise or success you've received?
Table of Content
- The shared human experience of imposter syndrome
- Why traditional solutions often fall short
- Creating safety in your nervous system through EFT to overcome imposter syndrome
- Connect with your body
- Begin the Tapping sequence
- Take a gentle breath and notice
- The Path Forward: From imposter syndrome to authentic self-confidence
- A Simple Tool for When Self-Doubt Overwhelms You
The shared human experience of imposter syndrome
These impostor feelings aren't just common among high-achieving women - they're practically epidemic. When Bieber shared his struggles with feeling "sneaky" and "unequipped," he gave voice to what many of us experience silently. That nagging inner voice filled with negative self-talk that whispers, "If they only knew my real thoughts..." or "I'm not as competent as they think I am."
The perfectionism, the fear of being exposed as inadequate, the constant self-doubt - these patterns often develop from early family dynamics and external factors that taught us our worth was conditional. Imposter syndrome may manifest differently for each person, but the core feelings of inadequacy remain strikingly similar.
Why traditional solutions often fall short
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Here's what makes these impostor feelings so persistent: they aren't just negative thoughts stored in your mind - they're internalized in your body as physical sensations. That's why simply trying to "think positive" or rationalize imposter syndrome away rarely works long-term.
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Here's what many practitioners don't tell you: attempting to overcome feelings of inadequacy through willpower or affirmations alone often misses the crucial body component and can lead to burnout. Your rational mind might understand that you're accomplished and worthy, but your nervous system may still be operating from old programming that questions your competence.
"I spent years trying to convince myself I deserved success. The negative self-talk and self-doubt were exhausting. But it wasn't until I started addressing these impostor feelings through my body that things really shifted. The tapping gave me a way to release what my body had been holding onto for decades and helped me reframe those automatic thoughts of inadequacy."
Amanda
Creating safety in your nervous system through EFT to overcome imposter syndrome
EFT offers a unique approach to address impostor feelings by working directly with your body's stress response system. When you learn to recognize how imposter syndrome often manifests physically, you can begin to reframe and release the inadequacy your body has been holding. Here's a gentle sequence to try:
Connect with your body
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Place one hand on your chest, or where you feel the unworthiness most strongly
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Invite a gentle breath into that space
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Tune in and guess the intensity of the impostor feelings (0-10)
Begin the Tapping sequence
Side of hand (setup):
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“Even though part of me feels like I don’t belong here, I’m open to being kind to myself in this moment.”
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“Even though I doubt my worth and fear being ‘found out,’ I want to acknowledge how hard this feels.”
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“Even though my body is carrying these old patterns of unworthiness, I’m giving myself permission to feel safe right now.”
Tapping sequence:
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Top of head: “This heaviness of never feeling good enough.”
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Eyebrow: “The constant worry that I’ll be exposed as a fraud.”
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Side of eye: “All the years of overworking, striving, and proving.”
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Under eye: “The tightness in my body when I question my value.”
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Under nose: “This fear that I’m not measuring up.”
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Chin: “Noticing how deeply I’ve carried this self-doubt.”
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Collarbone: “Letting my nervous system know: I am safe to soften here.”
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Under arm: “Allowing compassion for the part of me that feels like an impostor.”
Take a gentle breath and notice
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What shifted in your body?
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Where do you feel more spacious or relaxed?
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Rate the intensity again
Repeat until your number lower than a 3.
Optional reframe round:
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Top of head: “What if I don’t have to prove my worth anymore?”
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Eyebrow: “Maybe these impostor feelings are just old survival patterns.”
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Side of eye: “They once tried to protect me… but they’re not serving me now.”
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Under eye: “I can let my body learn a new way.”
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Under nose: “I am safe to belong, right here, as I am.”
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Chin: “I can release the pressure to be perfect.”
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Collarbone: “I’m open to the possibility that I’m enough.”
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Under arm: “I choose to breathe into this safety and self-acceptance.”
Feel free to adjust the words so they reflect what feels most potent and true for you in this moment. It’s often most effective to focus on clearing one emotion or thought at a time, giving your system the space it needs to release and reset.
The Path Forward: From imposter syndrome to authentic self-confidence
Remember, experiencing impostor feelings doesn't mean you are a fraud. Imposter syndrome didn't develop overnight, and it won't dissolve instantly either. Your body has been trying to protect you through these patterns of self-doubt and perfectionism, and it deserves gentle acknowledgment for its efforts. Through consistent EFT practice, you can begin to overcome these old patterns of inadequacy and reframe them into new, more supportive beliefs about your true competence and worth.
If you recognize yourself in these patterns of imposter syndrome—despite your skills, experience, or success—you are far from alone. For so many high-achieving women, the pressure to perform and maintain a composed exterior creates a painful disconnect from their own emotional truth, often leading to burnout and persistent negative self-talk.
A Simple Tool for When Self-Doubt Overwhelms You
Feeling like a fraud can trigger real physical anxiety and emotional overwhelm. This free EFT guide teaches you basic tapping techniques to help calm your system when those feelings hit. It's one practical tool in your toolbox - not a magic solution, but something that can genuinely help in the moment.
Here's what I know to be true: Your body holds both the patterns that keep you stuck AND the key to genuine transformation. You don't have to carry the weight of imposter syndrome alone, and you certainly don't need to have it all figured out right now.
Be patient with yourself as you explore these tools. Your nervous system has been working hard to protect you, and it deserves the same compassion you would offer a dear friend. Small, consistent steps toward self-acceptance often create the most lasting change.
You are worthy of belonging exactly as you are—not because of what you achieve, but simply because you exist. That's not something you need to earn or prove. It's your birthright.
🌿 Kay
