Types of Perfectionism
The Impostor
When success feels like a fluke and exposure feels inevitable
Every achievement comes with an asterisk. Every compliment feels unearned. You're waiting for the moment everyone realizes you don't belong here.
Living in Fear of Discovery
Impostor syndrome and perfectionism feed each other. You set impossible standards, then attribute any success to luck rather than skill. The goalposts move. The evidence never counts.
- You dismiss compliments and internalize criticism
- You over-prepare to compensate for perceived inadequacy
- You avoid situations where you might be "found out"
- Success brings anxiety instead of satisfaction
"You are not a fraud. You are a human learning as you go—like everyone else."
Owning Your Place
The truth: Everyone feels like an impostor sometimes. The difference is whether you let that feeling run your life.
Practice: Write down three things you've accomplished. Sit with the discomfort. Let them be true.