Imposter Syndrome Isn’t a Weakness… It’s a Threshold

Grand rising and welcome to New Mind. My name is Sam Daghash and I'm your host, and this episode and this show is always with the intention to share information for transformation. I'm really inspired in spirit to record this episode while I'm on the move, um, and this is going to be an audio only. Usually I record at the studio in Dubai, but I'm on the move and I just thought, you know what, I really had an amazing, amazing session with, uh, one of my high-performing clients, and I thought this is a topic that is not spoken enough about, um, and I think it's worthy of an episode because I know a lot of my listeners, um, out there and viewers would love to dig into this and unpack it. And it's all about imposter syndrome. And my intention here, guys, is to really dive deep into this topic but also give you guys some actionable insights. So if you're someone that have ever experienced this in the past or experiences it every now and then, or potentially will experience it in the future, I have good news for you. This is not all doom and gloom. It doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing. So in fact, the perception is that most people think imposter syndrome is a sign of something that is wrong with them, like they're not ready or they feel that they're not good enough or somewhat out of place. But what if I told you imposter syndrome isn't the problem? It's actually a signal, and it's a signal that you're stepping into a version of yourself that your current identity hasn't caught up with it yet. And this is the real danger for the mind. It's not the aspect of, of, of imposter syndrome, and it is not feeling itself, meaning it's not feeling safe in this new identity that is busy transforming and putting itself in what we know, what we would call the new known, right? It's something that is unknown to the mind or to the identity. So imposter syndrome is pretty much an internal experience of feeling like you don't belong, you're not as capable as you think or others think of you, and you're going to be found out. Like, you feel like you're a fraud. That's pretty much what I have always learned from my clients working with them. This is what they show me in terms of their experience of dealing with this imposter syndrome feeling. Also, personally, what I've been through at different parts of my life as I evolved and I experienced new experiences, that shows up. But again, that is the magic in this negative feeling or discomfort. is actually what we call a new identity is emerging. So some people will basically stop, quit, turn back to the known, and some will have the courage to break through and to overcome it. And my intention here again, guys, is to just simply break this down. Okay, so again, if we wanted to define what is imposter syndrome, it's simply a reflection of a self-image of yourself that you're not good enough in whatever you're doing, or that you think people think that you're not good enough. So it's always about an internal reality and an internal dialogue between you and yourself that is not allowing yourself the comfort of embodying whatever new experiences. And a lot of my high performers would experience that if they get, for example, into a new relationship, or if they get into a new title or a new, a new role, or they get it, or they got an opportunity to to, to, uh, get, uh, promoted, or, or, or it, it comes and it shows up in different aspects of life, right? Um, and bottom line, it's simply an old part of you that is holding on, that doesn't want to see you move into something new. And I call this an identity lag. Your external reality upgrades faster than your internal identity, right? Sometimes new things happen to you from the external world and your internal identity is still playing catch-up. So, you know, you've grown but your self-image hasn't caught up. That's the bottom line of what we would call imposter syndrome. So it takes time for the internal identity to get comfortable with the new, with the new version of you, right? So this happens a lot when, like I said, new experiences show up in life, new situations. So your life has expanded, but your mind is still operating from an old version of you. And this is something I love working with. Like when I have a client that has this sort of problem, for me, I know it sounds probably difficult for some people, but it's an easy fix for me because it's all about reconditioning the mind from the old identity to the new identity. And the old identity, when I say conditioning, it's always about childhood past. It's about how you've been conditioned in your family, in your society, in your relationship with your parents, in your culture, whatever external feedback you've been receiving as what we call conditioning. You have this element of seeing yourself in a specific box or a specific level or threshold. Now, I've seen this in multiple parts, aspects of life, even working in with traders or working with entrepreneurs or working with, um, you know, uh, uh, C-level, uh, CEOs that are moving in different parts, uh, even in, in people entering in new relationships where they think they're not even good enough for that relationship, or they're trying to show up in a certain way that's not really authentic because they're afraid that they're going to be found out about their true identity and their partner is going to leave them. So it shows up in many, many aspects and many ways, right? But ultimately, what's happening is that there is a conditioning element that is coming from the past that you're somehow being told that it's not enough, directly or indirectly, right? That you're not enough, or you're not good enough, or not worthy enough. And that's what tends to be one side of the coin, which creates this element of the root cause. The other root cause is also what we call perfectionism, right? So unrealistic standards that's been set forth, and your conditioning And, uh, you know, a lot of my high-performing clients would have, I must be perfect to be valid. You know, I have to be perfect in everything that I do in order to get validation or to be validated. So they're seeking external validation, and when they don't get that external validation, what happens is there's an internal conflict, there's an internal instability and insecurity that shows up. And that is the imposter syndrome in many, in, you know, showing up in a way or another that you don't deserve to be where you are, you know. And that's very hard. And this is why it's an important area to address, especially in, in, in the line of, of, um, of upgrading, uh, the identity so that it becomes an easier embodiment and transition into something new. So you're expanding yourself rather than shrinking yourself. There's also an element of lack of emotional integration. So a lot of times, a lot of people haven't really fully processed past failures, um, or even wins in that manner. So when we don't process failures or wins, what starts to happen is that the nervous system doesn't feel safe holding success. And this is really important, guys. When your nervous system doesn't feel safe holding success that's when you start to self-sabotage yourself. And I've seen this again. I use multiple examples. It could be self-sabotaging a relationship. It could be self-sabotaging, uh, a new, a new role, uh, or, or a new, or, you know, a new role in terms of work, uh, or a new title or a new position. Or even, you know, using example of traders making a certain amount of money and then having to self-sabotage subconsciously because they feel that they're not worthy of receiving the certain success, being it financial success on the P&Ls, et cetera, which is a trend I've seen a lot over the years. Now, for me, it just seeps in all aspects of life depending on what you're focusing on and where you are in your journey. So I'm speaking on a— I'm generalizing here, but I'm just using examples that showed up a lot and continues to show up a lot in my work. So the, the reason— there is, however, and this is really important because we talk about lack of emotional integration, and this is an area that is super important. And I had to do this myself over the years, changing different, uh, you know, changing careers, reinventing myself, starting a wellness brand, traveling around the world to speak, to talk, to do conferences, to, uh, work with with top-tier, you know, uh, uh, clients, um, uh, really big names in terms of entrepreneurs here in Dubai and, and, uh, you know, lawyers. Um, I've worked with really very, very like top, high-performing, very successful individuals in my career as, as, as a practitioner and, and master coach. And in some cases, I had to like remind myself of the ability and capability every time I was moving into different experiences in my journey and from a career perspective, um, because, you know, I had to pinch myself to realize who I'm sitting with sometimes or where I'm traveling to, what I'm doing. And that is very normal because that is me, the identity of the old shifting into a new identity of a realization that I have— first of all, I'm worthy. Second, second of all, I have the knowledge and expertise and the expert in what I do. And that slowly reaffirms that with time, energy, and also upgrading my own perceptions and belief systems. So all the work that I do with my clients today, I've had to do that myself. I had to go inward and you apply the therapies that I have to see myself, to believe in myself, to see that I am capable of more. And that's why you naturally continue to grow in your experiences. There is also an element which I track back a lot with my clients and my students around the comparison culture, you know, and this is a very important point because a lot of social media, you know, exposure creates some form of distortion and benchmarks, right? Everything we perceive is not always real on social media, and people are always trying to bring the best of the best. So, there's an unconscious comparison that starts to happen. of where we are and where we're supposed to be and where we're not. And that also creates behind the scenes, you know, an element of imposter syndrome, right? Element of, if I get that, will I feel this way or not? So there's an element of distortion that happens in the comparison culture as well. But here's the positive side to imposter syndrome that I want to share with you guys. And this is really important because, as I mentioned, imposter syndrome can actually mean that you're growing. It actually, actually means you're stepping into the unknown. And this is an area that I love focusing on if you've been hearing my episodes in the past, is the ability to be comfortable in stepping into the unknown because that's where Expansion lies. So you're expanding your capacity as you are experiencing some form of imposter syndrome. So I don't see imposter syndrome as a negative thing. I see it as a signal that you are stepping into something new, but there is also a signal that work is required so you feel comfortable and you work on yourself. You have— it's an invitation for you to go, oh wow, where in my conditioning am I not accepting this space, this space of growth? or this identity. And that's what— that's the inner work that is required so that you can elevate yourself and not self-sabotage yourself and bring yourself down, right? So because you don't feel like an imposter doing something you've already mastered, right? Think about it. When you've mastered something and you're confident in what you're doing, you don't feel that imposter syndrome. It only literally shows up when you're stretching into something bigger. And I can tell you firsthand, I've had those experiences in my life multiple times, and I always took it with a pinch of salt, but also with an invitation to, you know, work with my mentor to go and do some inner work and some updates and up of my belief systems and self-perceptions so I don't, you know, just brush it over. Because if you don't address it— and this is really important, guys— if you don't address it, trust me when I say this, I've seen this in my clients over and over again: self-sabotage kicks in, overthinking kicks in, playing small kicks in, procrastination kicks in, and burnout from overcompensating for different elements of, of that, you know. So you either shrink Or you overwork to prove something. And I can tell you that the overwork to prove something is something that I, I can tell you that from closer relationships in my life and previous relationships I've witnessed. Um, and that is something that is so energy-consuming and tiring because both of them come from that same root. that is not feeling enough. And that's really important. You know, if you're listening to this and this resonates with you, you know, I, I'm not— I'm here just, again, I'm the guide. I'm the person that is, you know, you're listening to this for the— for a reason. And I'm hoping that this is resonating with you so you understand how to deal with it, but also understand that it's, it's, it's a self-image aspect. That's all it is. Because really, you don't act based on your potential, you act based on who you believe you are. And I'll repeat that one more time. You don't act based on your potential, you act based on who you believe you are. That is what we call the self-image. And that's the internal perception, the identity. And I love, literally love working on this part of identity work, because I always see the most amazing breakthroughs with my clients and students. And when I witness that, it's like a game changer. A lot of things start to happen when the identity changes, when the identity shifts, because that's where the work is. That's the invitation, right? So here are some important practical insights, or should I say some actionable insights that you can do Um, when— if you feel or experience imposter syndrome, number one is you have to recognize it without resistance. So don't fight it, don't label it as weakness, just see it as an awareness without judgment is the first important step and shift that happens, right? So immediately, sometimes we would run away from that feeling and we would distract ourselves. No, no, see it for what it is, right? Number 2, or step 2, what I would say is separate feeling from the truth. Just because you feel like an imposter, it doesn't mean you are one. Feelings are signals. They're not facts, guys. Remember that. Then the invitation is, of course, to update the self-image. You know, what do you need to become to hold this level? What beliefs need to change? And that's where my work comes in, you know. What beliefs needs to change? Because that's the core of the work— the alignment, the identity, the subconscious. And this is the most powerful part that will make a real difference in terms of shifting that identity and being comfortable. And you also want to start to look at— and that's another step, by the way— is, is look at evidence-based rewiring. You know what I mean? Is like track wins, acknowledge your progress when you're stepping into something new, reinforce that in your mind, look back of how far you have come and what other places and other, uh, evolutions of yourself that you have moved through. This is very, very important. So literally journaling that, noting it, because that gives you that sense of reassurance that you have come a long way, and this is just part of that journey and part of that timeline. And step 5, I would say, is take action anyway, because confidence, guys, doesn't come before action. You build certainty by moving. by taking action, by not waiting. And these steps, truthfully speaking, are things that I've, you know, shared with my, with my clients from, from a perspective of after doing the inner upgrades. That is the things that can help you from a conscious outside external world. I'm always a person that would say, you know, another step here would be nervous system work. You know, you need to regulate your emotions, breathwork. You need to do the inner work and releasing past charge of the past, because if your body doesn't feel safe, your mind will always create doubt. So the body, which is the unconscious mind, is a big factor here, because remember, you're always feeling your thinking, and you can never think greater than you feel. So when you understand those principles, then you understand why it's important to get the body In alignment with the external world of what you're experiencing. So guys, my intention again with this is truly making this clearer for you and making you understand that imposter syndrome isn't a bad thing. And it doesn't mean you're not ready. It literally means you're stepping into something bigger. Than who you've been. And I'll leave you with this question. Will you shrink back into the familiar when you feel the feeling of imposter syndrome? Or will you expand and take it as an invite into who you're becoming? And this is a question that you need to reflect on and think about. Because honestly, guys, this is such an important topic, and I'm gonna probably record future episodes, uh, on this. I'm just on the move right now, and I thought let me drop this because it's fresh in my mind. I've just had an amazing breakthrough session with one of my clients, um, who is a successful entrepreneur, um, and he's moving into making 7 figures, and he's been having some challenges with being comfortable with making that amount of money for his business. And I was just simply explaining to him that this is the identity shift and the identity work that needs to take place so that your— his nervous system can be more receptive of the new timeline he's stepping into. So if you're someone that have experienced it in the past, or if you will experience it in the future, at least now You're more prepared than ever. And if this is something you've been experiencing, then the work isn't outside of you. It literally is within you. And this is exactly the kind of work, as I say, we do here at Inside New Minds— reconditioning that identity, regulating that system, and aligning you with the version of yourself that can actually hold success. Because I have news for you. Yes, you're listening to this right now, and yes, I'm speaking to you. You are worthy. You're worthy of all the success in your life. You literally are. We're all born worthy, you know. It's just that conditioning has made us think otherwise. And guys, this is again an open invitation if you want to explore, if you want to learn more about this particular area, because I think it needs more Feel free to DM me. Visit samdaghash.com. Follow me on Instagram, Sam at sam.daghash, D-A-G-H-A-S-H. I'm, I'm always open to share more, to guide more, and there's a lot of new things I'm working on behind the scenes. Although we have— we're just coming out, or maybe going into a new phase of war, I don't know. We're living in the world of uncertainty, and this is the new norm for me, so I'm learning to focus on what I can control and focusing on the outcomes that I want and continue to make a positive impact in this space with my beautiful tribe that are listeners from all around. So I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you again for making the time to listen to this episode. And if you haven't already subscribed, please subscribe. If you haven't checked out my YouTube page, it's a new YouTube page that I started. a few months ago that I want to grow in alignment with this, with the audio platform. Although I have, you know, hundreds and hundreds of downloads weekly with the audio platform, which is growing, and I'm so grateful for my listeners from all around the world, but I'm also having intention to grow the video podcast. So go check it out. It's at New Mind, New Mind, Sam Daghash. You will find me on YouTube and you'll see you know, my face there if you want to engage with it rather than listen sometimes. My intention is to, is to grow that as well. But I'm doing this all out of passion, to be very honest with you guys. I'm so grateful that this is just a passion and an intention to, to grow with you guys and to continue sharing my personal learnings from working with clients from all around the world, high achievers, as well as my own personal journey, uh, that potentially will help you wherever you are and whatever you're facing in this space time. So big love to you guys. Thank you so much again for tuning in, and I, uh, I'll check you on the, on the new episode. Much love and positive energy.