You don’t have an imposter problem. You have identity lag.
The doubt eating you alive? It’s not proof you’re a fraud. It’s proof you’re outgrowing the version of you that used to fit.
I’ve felt like a fake in every chapter worth living: Navy, corporate, tutoring, even now as a coach. For decades, I treated those thoughts like a fatal flaw. But here’s the truth I learned the hard way:
Your doubt isn’t broken. Your identity is just running old software.
This episode dismantles the Imposter Illusion: the lie that feeling like a beginner means you don’t belong.
In This Episode:
Why doubt isn’t a diagnosis but a vital sign of growth
Three truths about doubt—as GPS, detox, and demand
How to stop asking permission and start owning your becoming
A reset you can use today when imposter thoughts strike
✦ Reflection Prompts:
What version of me is my doubt trying to kill off?
Where am I shrinking to make my old identity comfortable?
If this doubt is data, what’s the upgrade it’s demanding?
✦ The Boost (Action Step):
* Name the Lie – Write down the imposter thought looping in your head.
* Flip the Script – Ask: “What if this doubt means I’m exactly where I need to be?”
* Act Anyway – Take one action as the person who belongs. Not later… Now!
If doubt has been masquerading as proof you don’t belong, let’s rewrite that script. book your No-Cost Identity Clarity Call, and we’ll decode your imposter thoughts as data and align your identity with your next level.
✦ On the Next Episode:
The Self-Sabotage Script: Why You Keep Undermining What You Want.
Because sometimes the enemy isn’t comparison or doubt, it’s the quiet ways you betray yourself when victory is within reach.
✦ If Today’s Episode Sparked Something…
* Forward this to someone trapped by doubt
* Subscribe for rhythm-based identity resets
* Join the R.E.A.L. Mastery™ Hub
* Apply for Beyond the Boost live coaching sessions
✦ Engage With Me Online:
* Instagram: @coachshawnmichael
* TikTok: @coachshawnmichael
* YouTube: @coachshawnmichael
* LinkedIn: @coachinguatemala
✦ References & Influences:
* Steve Andreas – Transforming Your Self (on self-concept and identity expansion)
* Gay Hendricks – The Big Leap (on upper limits and identity lag)
* Carol Dweck – Mindset (on growth vs. fixed self-belief)
* Polyvagal Theory – Stephen Porges (on nervous system alarms during expansion)
With strength, heart & fire 🔥❤️,Shawn Michael
