Imposter Syndrome: Who am I to have all this?
Tom Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner, once said:
“No matter what we’ve achieved, there comes a point when we think, ‘How did I get here? When will they find out I’m a fraud and take everything from me?'”
Other celebrities shared similar sentiments:
Emma Watson:
“It’s almost like the better I do, the more my sense of inadequacy grows, because I think, ‘Any moment now, someone is going to find out that I’m a complete fraud and that I don’t deserve any of what I’ve achieved.'”
Michelle Obama:
“I still have a little bit of imposter syndrome. That feeling that you shouldn’t take me seriously never quite goes away. What do I even know?”
And me?
My moment came in my first year of college when my anatomy professor said to me:
“Colleague, you’d better drop out right now because you’ll never finish this.”
I didn’t drop out – not because I believed in myself, but because I didn’t know what else to do. But I believed him. And even though I graduated from college, built a career, and achieved financial and personal security, the feeling that I didn’t deserve it haunted me for a long time. I believed that my success was the result of luck, not hard work and ability. I was ashamed of praise, downplayed my own achievements, and always thought that everyone else was better. Who am I to have all of this?
Only later did I realize – I’m not alone.
What is imposter syndrome?
The word imposter is translated into Croatian as a fraud, fake, intruder.
Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern in which individuals doubt their own achievements and live in constant, often irrational fear of being exposed as frauds.
It was first described in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, observing successful women who, despite objective successes, did not believe they deserved them.
Essentially, imposter syndrome is a lack of self-confidence and inner security, which leaves you feeling like an “intruder” in your own life.
The core beliefs that fuel it
“I’m not good enough.”
People who suffer from imposter syndrome often believe that they are not smart, hardworking or talented enough.
They may be able to convince others, but they cannot convince themselves.
Every praise sounds like a delusion. Every success like a coincidence.
Social networks as a mirror of insecurity
Perfect lives on Instagram, FB or TikTok create a distorted reality.
We look at the pictures and think:
“They have the perfect relationship. They are advancing in their careers. Their lives look like something out of a movie.”
We compare ourselves and feel inadequate – like we will never be good enough.
But the truth is: even those we look up to often feel the same way.
How it affects relationships
Imposter syndrome doesn’t just affect work and career — it also affects our closest relationships.
We can ask ourselves:
“Why would my partner be with me?”
“When he finds out who I really am, he’ll leave.”
These kinds of thoughts undermine intimacy, trust, and a sense of security — both with others and with oneself.
When praise becomes uncomfortable
No matter how much people tell you that you are capable and valuable — you don’t feel it.
You experience praise with discomfort, thinking it is exaggerated or insincere.
Your inner critic whispers louder and louder:
“If they know the truth, they won’t respect me anymore.”
But the real truth is simple:
No amount of external praise will change what you believe about yourself — until you decide to change it from within.
How widespread is imposter syndrome?
Much more than we think.
It affects even those who seemingly have it all: success, recognition, security.
Statistics show that approximately 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at least once in their lives
And it’s not just numbers.
These are real people — maybe your colleagues, friends, maybe you.
The five most common forms of imposter syndrome
According to psychological research, imposter syndrome occurs most often in these forms:
- Perfectionist – Measures success solely by perfection. Mistake means failure.
- Natural genius – If effort is required, he feels incompetent.
- Superhero – Must excel in all roles in life, otherwise they are worth less.
- Expert – Never good enough because “he never knows enough”.
- Solo player – Must do everything alone. Help = weakness.
Feel the power changes
Change begins when we decide to look within ourselves, instead of seeking validation from outside.
Through RTT (Rapid Transformational Therapy), you learn how to:
- to accept praise without belittling oneself
- recognize and silence the inner critic
- build a stronger, more secure identity from within
RTT uses the power of hypnosis to access and reprogram subconscious beliefs:
instead of thoughts like:
“I’m not good enough”
“I don’t deserve success”
“I am a fraud”
— you adopt thoughts that support your value and authenticity.
And it’s not just a mental change — it’s a change on an emotional and even physical level.
Through RTT, I believed for the first time what I had been hearing for years:
That I’m worthy. That I’m good enough. Not because I’ve achieved something, but because I am.
If you’ve ever wondered:
“Who am I to do this?”
Maybe the right question is:
“Who am I not to do it?”
Your success is no coincidence.
Your abilities are not a fraud.
Your position is not a mistake.
You are here because you deserve it.
And you are good enough and always have been and always will be.
