Embracing Authenticity – The Antidote to Imposter Syndrome

In a world that often nudges us towards conformity, embracing authenticity becomes both a challenge and a powerful act of self-acceptance. For many of us – myself included – the path towards authenticity has been closely entwined with confronting imposter syndrome. That persistent feeling of being a fraud, despite clear evidence of success.

Through my experiences as a veterinary surgeon and coach, I’ve come to understand that authenticity isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a transformative force. A grounding anchor. And one of the most compassionate things we can offer ourselves in the face of self-doubt. It's not always easy though, when the question(s) of "who am I?", and "what does it mean to be authentic?" are always.just.there.

But here’s something I didn’t realise early on:

Authenticity can only flourish where there is safety. Inner safety. Relational safety. Cultural safety. Without it, authenticity can feel exposing – or even impossible.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is characterised by an internalised fear of being exposed as a "fraud", even when there’s clear evidence of competence.

It’s that quiet, familiar whisper: “You don’t belong here.”Or: “Any minute now, they’ll find out you’re not really that good.”

These thoughts can arise no matter how qualified or experienced we are – and it’s more common than you might think. Studies suggest that up to 70% of people will experience imposter feelings at some point in their lives.

I often say: imposter syndrome isn’t a life sentence, it’s a pattern. And patterns can shift and change. My website is full of information on this topic.

The Missing Link: Safety First

Something I don’t think is talked about enough in this space is safety.

Because let’s be real – it’s not always safe to be your full self in every environment. If your workplace, culture or community has made it clear (even subtly) that certain aspects of you aren’t welcome – whether that’s your gender identity, your accent, your parenting role, your neurodiversity, or even just your uncertainty – then of course you’ll reach for a mask. Of course you’ll edit. That’s a form of protection, not weakness; even if we don't realise we're doing it.

I want to say this clearly:If you’ve hidden parts of yourself to feel safe – that was you working with past-based wisdom. Not wrong.

Authenticity isn’t about stripping those protections away overnight. It’s about gently, over time, cultivating spaces (internally and externally) where more of you is allowed to be seen. One step at a time, because being in survival mode and having a mask on 24/7 is exhausting.

The Link Between Authenticity and Imposterism

Imposter syndrome thrives in the gap between who we truly are and who we think we should be. When we wear masks to meet perceived expectations – whether societal, professional, or internal – we create a disconnect. That gap becomes fertile ground for fraudulence to creep in.

Authenticity, by contrast, is about bridging that gap. About coming home to ourselves. A re-learning.

It’s not about oversharing or being constantly vulnerable. Rather, it’s the steady alignment between our values, actions and inner voice. It’s being rooted in enough self-awareness that we can say: this is who I am today – and that’s okay.

What Authenticity Isn't

Let’s bust a few myths. Authenticity often gets misrepresented – particularly online.

It isn’t:

An excuse to be unfiltered or unkind (“I’m just being honest” isn’t authenticity – it’s a boundary blur)
A demand to share everything with everyone
About being the same person in every situation
Performed vulnerability for likes or validation

Authenticity is contextual. It’s intentional. It’s about congruence – not chaos.

It’s choosing to honour your truth, even when that means setting a boundary, saying “I don’t know”, or being silent when the world wants a hot take.

My Journey with Imposter Syndrome

There was a time in my life where, from the outside, everything looked incredibly accomplished. I was a small animal vet with a Certificate in Internal Medicine. I had 27 letters after my name and ‘Dr’ before it. And yet, inside? It felt like none of those things had truly “earned” me my place.

I was always scanning for the next qualification or external validation – hoping it would finally make me feel enough.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

What helped was not achieving more – but unravelling the story that said I had to earn my worth in the first place. Through coaching, reflection, and a whole lot of self-compassion, I began to connect with something deeper. My values. My voice. My own pace.

And gradually, the volume of imposter feelings turned down.

Not because I fixed myself – but because I stopped abandoning myself.

Practical Ways to Reconnect with Your Authentic Self

Let’s get tangible. Here are some strategies I use with coaching clients – and still use myself – to gently shift out of imposter thinking and into authenticity.

1. Start with reflection

Ask yourself:

What values are most important to me – and am I living in alignment with them?
When do I feel most like myself?
Where in my life am I performing or people-pleasing to feel safe or accepted?

These questions aren’t always comfortable – but they are illuminating.

2. Notice the inner protector

That “I don’t belong” voice? It often developed to protect you. What might it be trying to prevent? Shame? Rejection? Pause and get curious – not critical. Who's voice is it? Are you ready to re-educate it?

3. Name the mask

What mask do you tend to wear when you feel uncertain? (The expert? The perfectionist? The cheerful one?) What does that mask protect you from? And – when is it safe to take it off?

4. Seek out safety

This might be a colleague who sees you. A coach or therapist. A journal. An online community. Authenticity grows in safe soil – not in judgemental spaces. Curate your environment intentionally. Where can you feel safe and become familiar with who you are.

5. Celebrate congruence, not performance

Instead of asking “Was I impressive?” try asking “Was I true to myself?”

6. Expand your capacity for being seen

This can be gently titrated. Sharing a small opinion. Saying “I’m not sure.” Leaving a silence instead of overexplaining. Each time you show up as you – and the world doesn’t end – it rewires a little more trust in yourself.

7. Explore Self-Compassion

A highly evidenced practice of leaning into offering ourselves the same kindness as we do everyone else. This can really help bring understanding to ourselves in those moments we might feel misaligned, or perhaps where authenticity feels scarier.

Journal Prompts to Deepen Your Work

What parts of me do I feel I can’t show – and why?
Who are the people with whom I feel most like myself? What do they offer me?
What does inner safety feel like in my body – and what helps me access it?
What would authenticity look like if I didn’t feel the need to prove or protect?
Who could help me explore this further?

My five Tips to Maintain Authenticity

Anchor to your values – let them guide your actions, especially under pressure.
Notice your nervous system – if you feel unsafe, authenticity will be harder. Support your body first.
Connect with other real humans – authenticity invites authenticity.
Limit comparison – someone else’s curated life isn’t your benchmark.
Let go of being “liked” by everyone – connection matters more than approval.

Final Thoughts

Authenticity isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about remembering yourself – underneath the layers you picked up to stay safe.

And the beautiful thing? The more you practise showing up as you, the less space imposter syndrome takes up. It may still whisper now and then – but it doesn’t get to drive.

Because when we create safety – inside ourselves, and around each other – we create space for truth.

And truth doesn’t need to shout to be powerful.

It just needs to be held.