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