why high performers still feel like frauds

Christian Ray Flores here, writing fresh off a middle of the night imposter syndrome episode.

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what your 3am panic is trying to tell you

I’ve been in media, teaching, speaking, mentoring, and coaching for decades. And yet — with annoying consistency — I still get hit with imposter syndrome. Sometimes all it takes is a small disruption in the pattern. Deb is away visiting family, and that simple change had me up at 3AM spiraling: Why do I even dare think I can bring value or improve anyone’s life? Who am I to teach anyone anything?

That’s imposter syndrome.

It plagues the most competent among us with higher intensity.

It can derail or stall our best work for years.

And the good news? It can be beaten.

Here’s the cold hard truth: if you want an extraordinary life, you’re signing up for hundreds of moments just like my 3AM panic. It comes with the territory — and you simply have to possess the antidote to it.

And here’s what makes that antidote possible: imposter syndrome isn’t mysterious. It has patterns, causes, and triggers that show up with startling consistency. Once you see them, they lose their power.

where imposter syndrome comes from (research-backed causes + triggers)

1. high-achiever bias

The researchers who first identified imposter syndrome, Clance & Imes, found it hits high performers the hardest. The more capable you become, the more aware you are of what you don’t know — and that awareness creates a false sense of inadequacy that less capable people never experience.

If you’ve ever had a night like my 3AM spiral, this is often why.

2. identity lag

Your life can upgrade faster than your internal identity does. Psychology calls this “identity lag,” and the brain treats it like a mismatch: new role, outdated self-concept. That gap alone can trigger the sense that exposure is coming, even when you’re unquestionably qualified.

3. comparison overload

Constant upward comparison — especially online — resets your sense of what “normal” progress looks like. Research shows it consistently lowers self-assessment, even in people performing exceptionally well. It’s not failure; it’s a distorted baseline.

4. lack of representation

When you walk into rooms where you don’t see people with your background or path, the brain interprets it as social risk. Studies on “solo status” show it amplifies vigilance and self-doubt, regardless of competence or performance.

5. perfectionism loops

Perfectionism, in the research sense, is fear of judgment dressed up as “high standards.” Impossible expectations → inevitable disappointment → the false belief you don’t belong. It’s a loop designed to keep talented people stuck.

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Next: 3 techniques that dismantle imposter syndrome instantly and long-term