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Do you ever feel like any minute now, someone’s going to figure out you don’t actually belong, even though you do?
In this episode, Leah reframes imposter syndrome not as a flaw to fix, but as a signal that you’re growing. Through neuroscience, personal reflection, and powerful analogies (yes, including “bicycle face”), she explores the real reason you feel like a fraud—and why it’s actually a good sign.
You’ll learn:
• Where imposter syndrome really comes from
• What your nervous system is doing behind the scenes
• Why new experiences trigger old survival responses
• How neuroplasticity explains the discomfort of growth
• The 5 types of imposter syndrome—and which ones resonate with you
This is part one of a two-part series that will help you stop spiraling and start honoring the discomfort of doing something meaningful.
⸻
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – The fear of being “found out”
01:04 – What we’re covering in part one
02:05 – Where imposter syndrome originated
03:18 – The “bicycle face” analogy (and what it means today)
05:09 – What if imposter syndrome is a sign of growth?
05:44 – Your nervous system’s job is survival, not success
06:54 – Neuroplasticity: why growth feels awkward
07:34 – Leah’s personal story: launching her Resilience journal
09:02 – Your body reacts to newness like a threat
10:08 – Your brain is scanning for patterns—and gets anxious without them
11:44 – The 5 patterns of imposter syndrome (by Dr. Valerie Young)
12:00 – #1: The Perfectionist
13:11 – #2: The Expert
14:08 – #3: The Natural Genius
15:20 – #4: The Soloist
16:24 – #5: The Superhero
17:38 – These are survival strategies, not flaws
18:22 – You might show different types in different areas of life
18:33 – A final reframe: imposter syndrome as a growth signal
18:42 – Preview of part two: regulating & taking action
19:01 – Closing
⸻
🧠 Explore More Tools
📝 Get my Resilience Journal to support your healing journey:
📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mental+health+Journal&hidden-keywords=B0DNRSLV9F&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
📌 Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1
🧘♀️ Join the Nervous System Journaling Club
→ https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1
🎓 Learn more:
→ The Advanced Nervous System Resilience Training: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aXvnLQ5iNMBUxzQYYcrgjg.Ygo_CcAbKDLG3ax4WgUAUannnVgrozTHO0DU3k-rSfw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mental%2Bhealth%2BJournal&qid=1748849188&sr=8-1&th=1
📬 Stay Connected
💌 Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletter
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoaching
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
5
7474 ratings
Do you ever feel like any minute now, someone’s going to figure out you don’t actually belong, even though you do?
In this episode, Leah reframes imposter syndrome not as a flaw to fix, but as a signal that you’re growing. Through neuroscience, personal reflection, and powerful analogies (yes, including “bicycle face”), she explores the real reason you feel like a fraud—and why it’s actually a good sign.
You’ll learn:
• Where imposter syndrome really comes from
• What your nervous system is doing behind the scenes
• Why new experiences trigger old survival responses
• How neuroplasticity explains the discomfort of growth
• The 5 types of imposter syndrome—and which ones resonate with you
This is part one of a two-part series that will help you stop spiraling and start honoring the discomfort of doing something meaningful.
⸻
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – The fear of being “found out”
01:04 – What we’re covering in part one
02:05 – Where imposter syndrome originated
03:18 – The “bicycle face” analogy (and what it means today)
05:09 – What if imposter syndrome is a sign of growth?
05:44 – Your nervous system’s job is survival, not success
06:54 – Neuroplasticity: why growth feels awkward
07:34 – Leah’s personal story: launching her Resilience journal
09:02 – Your body reacts to newness like a threat
10:08 – Your brain is scanning for patterns—and gets anxious without them
11:44 – The 5 patterns of imposter syndrome (by Dr. Valerie Young)
12:00 – #1: The Perfectionist
13:11 – #2: The Expert
14:08 – #3: The Natural Genius
15:20 – #4: The Soloist
16:24 – #5: The Superhero
17:38 – These are survival strategies, not flaws
18:22 – You might show different types in different areas of life
18:33 – A final reframe: imposter syndrome as a growth signal
18:42 – Preview of part two: regulating & taking action
19:01 – Closing
⸻
🧠 Explore More Tools
📝 Get my Resilience Journal to support your healing journey:
📌 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Mental+health+Journal&hidden-keywords=B0DNRSLV9F&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
📌 Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1
🧘♀️ Join the Nervous System Journaling Club
→ https://www.skool.com/nervous-system-journaling-club/about?ref=06e003b61b8148ebbafd3a067f3cc2e1
🎓 Learn more:
→ The Advanced Nervous System Resilience Training: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Journal-Anxiety-Management-Self-Care/dp/B0DNRSLV9F/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aXvnLQ5iNMBUxzQYYcrgjg.Ygo_CcAbKDLG3ax4WgUAUannnVgrozTHO0DU3k-rSfw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mental%2Bhealth%2BJournal&qid=1748849188&sr=8-1&th=1
📬 Stay Connected
💌 Newsletter: leahdavidsonlifecoaching.com/newsletter
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @leahdavidsonlifecoaching
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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