Imposter Syndrome? Or Something More Sinister? blocking your career development and growth.
A coach once told me they don’t believe in imposter syndrome—that if you feel like a fraud, you just need to work harder. Sound familiar? I disagree. After years of working with high-achieving professionals, I’ve seen a deeper force at play. It’s not just self-doubt. It’s not just insecurity. It’s something far more insidious: Emotional Reasoning.
As a hypnotherapy practitioner and mindset coach, I’ve helped countless professionals break free from self-sabotage, gain confidence, and finally step into the career growth and development they deserve. And here’s the thing: Imposter syndrome is an umbrella term for the surface symptoms. The real issue is an unconscious mental trap that convinces you your emotions are a reality, jeopardizing your career growth.
Let’s break it down.
High achievers—people like you—aren’t struggling because they lack skill, talent, or intelligence. In fact, most of my clients are exceptionally qualified and hard-working folks. But emotional reasoning hijacks their success in the most inconvenient moments!. It’s that sneaky little voice that whispers:
“If I FEEL like a fraud, I must be one.”
“If I FEEL nervous, I must be unprepared.”
“If I FEEL overwhelmed, I must not be capable.”
Sound familiar? This is the mental booby trap that keeps you stuck in career purgatory while less qualified people climb the ladder.
Take my client, a brilliant marketing manager. She was overlooked for yet another promotion, and she blamed herself—convinced she wasn’t competent enough, even though she had a track record of delivering high-level projects. When it came time to present her ideas, she would shrink herself down, mistaking her nervousness for proof that she wasn’t ready.
This wasn’t a lack of confidence. This was emotional reasoning in action.
When we worked together, we uncovered the source of the problem: a childhood of emotional neglect. Raised by a single parent who worked constantly, she never learned how to process her emotions—so instead, she dismissed and suppressed them. Her subconscious default? Letting emotions dictate her confidence at crucial moments, completely disregarding facts.
What changed? She developed something that many high achievers lack: Emotional Literacy.
Unlike emotional intelligence, which is about recognizing emotions, emotional literacy is the ability to separate feelings from facts. And when she mastered it? Game. Over.
She stopped treating nerves as evidence of incompetence.
She stopped second-guessing herself.
She started making powerful, confident decisions that positioned her as a leader.
Result? When the next promotion opened up, she wasn’t just considered—she was the obvious choice.
She didn’t change who she was. She simply stopped letting her emotions run the show. And once emotional reasoning was out of the way? Her career took off.
So, let me ask you—are you watching less-qualified people land the opportunities you should be getting?
If you’re tired of outsmarting yourself into stagnation, let’s talk. Book a diagnostic call and let’s pinpoint the exact unconscious habit holding you back.
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