2025-10-25
Mykhailo Paliukh
- Introduction: When Even AI Can’t Convince You That You’re Good Enough
- Impostor Syndrome: The Quiet Shadow of Success
- A Distracted Mind: When Energy Flows the Wrong Way
- Perfectionism: A Beautiful Word for Self-Destruction
- The Brain Under Siege by Doubt
- When Doubt Becomes Part of Your Identity
- Questions and Answers
How Impostor Syndrome Affects Focus
Introduction: When Even AI Can’t Convince You That You’re Good Enough
Lately, I’ve been working more than ever.
New projects, challenges, endless thoughts. My mind feels overcrowded, yet deep inside there’s a sense that I’m falling behind — not behind people, but behindmachines.
Artificial intelligence is getting smarter every day. It writes, generates ideas, and analyzes data faster than I can even open LifeSketch. And somewhere deep inside, a thought appears: “What if one day I get replaced?”
I start working even harder — to prove that I’m irreplaceable.
But the more I do, the more I feel it’s still not enough.
Even when I receive praise, there’s a familiar voice inside saying:
“It’s just luck. They haven’t realized yet that you’re not as competent as you seem.”
That voice has a name — - impostor syndrome.
It doesn’t just steal your peace of mind. Itdestroys your ability to focus,, turning every workday into an inner conflict between logic and fear.
We live in a time when technology can replace many professions, but no machine can replace human confidence in one’s own worth. And until we learn to nurture that confidence, even our greatest achievements will feel accidental.
These thoughts don’t just steal your calm — they blur your focus,, reduce productivity, and drain your mental energy in a constant battle with yourself.
Impostor Syndrome: The Quiet Shadow of Success
It doesn’t show up when you fail — it appears when you succeed.
After a promotion, a presentation, a finished project — you’re standing on a peak, but instead of joy, doubts arise: “Did I really earn this? Was it just luck? Can I keep up this pace? What if this is the end?”
The paradox is that impostor syndrome rarely visits irresponsible people.
On the contrary, it thrives among highly motivated, intelligent, perfectionist individuals — those who truly care about doing things well.
Impostor syndrome - is a psychological phenomenon where a person doubts their achievements and lives in constant fear of being “exposed” as a fraud — even when their success is obvious.
The irony is that this fear doesn’t fade with success — it grows alongside it.
The more you achieve, the more you fear losing it.
Every new result brings not peace, but a new kind of anxiety:
“What if this time I can’t handle it?”
“What if my success was just luck?”
“What if everything I’m building collapses because I’m not as competent as people think?”
You double-check emails, triple-check reports, delay sending messages because “something can still be improved.” Even when things go perfectly, there’s a constant tension inside — a feeling that one mistake could destroy everything you’ve built.
Paradoxically, this self-criticism often appears in smart, experienced people. They see the world’s complexity, their own limits and flaws — and that awareness creates an illusion of incompetence. This phenomenon is known as theDunning–Kruger effect:: the more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know.
That’s why impostor syndrome isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a side effect of deep self-awareness.
Yet, in chasing perfection, we often lose what matters most — the - ability to define what’s “enough” to feel happy. And then even genuine recognition feels like coincidence, and every new success — a threat to your stability.
A Distracted Mind: When Energy Flows the Wrong Way
Each of us has a limited amount of cognitive energy. And instead of directing it toward creation, we spend it onself-checking.
The mind runs an inner dialogue:
“Am I prepared enough?”
“Maybe I should read it one more time?”
“What if someone realizes I’m just improvising?”
This endless stream of doubt consumes energy that could be invested insomething good and alive — - focus, creativity, learning, self-care, or time with loved ones.
Instead of channeling your energy into growth, youshift your focus toward unproductive thoughts,,analyzing every step as if searching for proof of your own inadequacy. Each attempt to focus turns into a battle with inner resistance.
Perfectionism: A Beautiful Word for Self-Destruction
We often call it “high standards.” But in reality, it’s justfear of making mistakes.
Impostor syndrome feeds on the belief that if something isn’t perfect, it proves you’re not competent enough.
You postpone projects because you want them to “shine.”
You rewrite your code ten times, noticing new tiny details to improve each time.
You keep learning new things and trying to grow because you’re afraid of looking unprofessional.
The result?You’re exhausted, and your focus disappears exactly when you need it most. You might drift away from family, friends, or yourself — lost in self-analysis and doubt. This only worsens your emotional state and destroys your sense ofbalance between work and relationships.
The Brain Under Siege by Doubt
Neuroscientists say that impostor syndrome activates the same brain centers as fear or danger. You’re not running from a tiger, but your brain thinks you are — triggering the “fight or flight” response.
In this state, theprefrontal cortex,, responsible for focus and planning, shuts down.
Instead, thelimbic system,, - the emotional and fear center, takes control.
That’s why during impostor episodes it’s hard to focus, remember details, or make decisions.
Your brain isn’t working on the task — it’s busydefending you from imaginary exposure.
When Doubt Becomes Part of Your Identity
The trickiest thing about impostor syndrome is that it oftenhides behind modesty..
We say, “I’m just being realistic,” or “I don’t want to seem arrogant.”
But deep down, those phrases often mask a fear: “What if I don’t actually deserve this?”
Over time, that fear becomes part of who you are. You start seeing yourself as “one step behind” — even when you’re already ahead.
This leads to a paradox: the more you achieve, the more you feel like an impostor.
It’s a never-ending loop:
The Impostor Syndrome Cycle
1
Doubt2
Overexertion3
Exhaustion4
Temporary Success5
New DoubtAn endless circle that can only be broken by rewriting your inner narrative.
Questions and Answers
1. How do I know if I have impostor syndrome?
If even after achievements you feel like “it was just luck,” or fear that others will find out you’re “not that good,” — that’s a sign. It often appears as constant comparison, self-doubt, or minimizing your own success.
2. Why does impostor syndrome appear after success?
When you reach a new level, your brain starts doubting if you truly deserve it. Success challenges your self-image, replacing pride with anxiety: “What if this was just a coincidence?”
3. How does impostor syndrome affect focus?
It creates mental noise — constant doubt that pulls your attention away from real goals. Your energy goes into self-criticism instead of action, leading to fatigue and loss of concentration.
4. How can I break this cycle of doubt?
Notice the moment when thought turns into self-criticism. Write down your achievements — even small ones. It helps your brain see facts instead of fears. Remind yourself: “I don’t need to be perfect to be valuable.”
5. Can you ever completely get rid of it?
No, but you can learn to live with it. Doubt isn’t weakness — it’s a sign of growth. It disappears not when you stop being afraid, but when you learn to act despite fear.
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