Imposter Syndrome: How Your Brain Keeps You Safe (and Small)

Imposter syndrome is essentially a defense mechanism created by our brains to keep us safe, and as a result, it also keeps us small. The mind’s primary goal is survival, not thriving. This means that when you reach new heights in your career or life, or when you're on the verge of an exciting new opportunity, your brain may react by trying to pull you back into the familiar.

Think of your mind as a well-meaning but overprotective guardian. It doesn’t care if you’re successful, fulfilled, or stepping into your power. Its only concern is keeping you safe—and “safe” means staying in familiar territory, where there are fewer perceived risks. So, when you begin to step outside your comfort zone, your mind sends off alarms: "You're not ready." "You're not good enough." "What if you fail?"

This is how imposter syndrome creeps in. It’s not that you’re actually unworthy or incapable—it’s your mind trying to protect you from the unknown. Your brain equates safety with staying where you are, even if where you are no longer serves you. And because thriving often means stepping into discomfort, imposter syndrome convinces you that staying small and avoiding risk is the safest bet.

But here’s the truth: imposter syndrome, like all defense mechanisms, is not rooted in reality. It’s a set of conditioned thoughts designed to keep you within the limits of what feels safe. And the moment you recognize this, you have the power to acknowledge it without letting it define you. When you rewrite the story and choose to act despite these fears, you start to shift from survival mode to thriving mode.

By understanding that imposter syndrome is just your mind’s way of reacting to growth, you can meet it with compassion and remind yourself that while safety is important, it’s not the same as shrinking or hiding from your potential.