I once remember seeing a man assemble pizza boxes in the blink of an eye. He was incredibly skilled—effortless, almost mechanical in his precision. It was something he had clearly mastered after years of repetition working in a pizza restaurant.

Watching him made me think: he didn’t start like that.

Like most things, he must have started slowly. Awkwardly. Probably even feeling foolish at first—like everyone was watching, like he didn’t belong, like he would never get it right. And yet, over time, what once felt uncomfortable became second nature.

Is this where imposter syndrome begins?

The term imposter syndrome is widely used today. Some encourage us to “embrace the imposter” and “fake it until we make it.” Others point out that imposter syndrome is rooted in insecurity—those moments when we step into something unfamiliar or beyond what we believe we are capable of.

A promotion into leadership. A new role. A new level of responsibility. Suddenly, the voice appears: Who said you can do this?

I believe there is truth in that experience.

And I also believe we must still move forward—even when we feel uncertain, unqualified, or overwhelmed. Growth rarely feels comfortable.

But I don’t believe we are meant to continuously feed the voice of imposter syndrome either.

Instead, in all things, we return to process and grounding truth:

We return to our default identity: I am of God, and God is of me. I can do all things with God’s help. If God brought me here, then I am capable of being here.

We practice emotional regulation—breathing, grounding ourselves, and imagining what success looks like in this new space or assignment. We allow ourselves to feel what it is like to grow into something unfamiliar.

And we stay with it.

Because imposter feelings are often temporary. They soften over time as repetition builds familiarity and confidence. What once felt foreign eventually becomes part of who you are.

One day, you realize you’re no longer questioning whether you belong.

Until, of course, you step into your next level of growth—and the process begins again.