Behind every successful endeavour is an imposter with a story. And there are (at least) two sides to every story. Highest potential. Lowest potential. When the story of the imposter kicks in, the side you tend be aware of is discouraging and unsupportive. But. The other side, its hidden potential, is the opposite. Encouraging and supportive.

The thing is, your imposter tends to shapeshift to suit different circumstances, goals and objectives, so it’s important to capture the imposter by naming it with an archetype each time. You will need to shine a light on the upside and downside of your imposter to suit each challenge or situation.

Using an archetype to name your imposter can help you to recognise and process your imposter syndrome experience. When you label it with an archetype, you’re describing how it can be discouraging, and how it can encourage you. You’re describing how it is supportive and how it is not. You gain a sense of clarity and validation. You begin to make sense of this conflicting internal state. You develop more self assurance. Or you regain it.

Think of something you want to do but you can’t because imposter syndrome has grabbed you by the throat. To loosen its grip, give your imposter a name by using an archetype.

Hannah wants to start a counselling business but imposter syndrome has kicked in. She can’t even begin to think about working on a business plan.

First Hannah need to ask: Which archetype represents the part of me that wants to operate a counselling business? The Liberator. Why? I want to help people to overcome challenges, improve their mental health, and lead fulfilling lives. I have a natural inclination towards empathy, listening, and problem-solving. It’s an opportunity to make a positive impact on my community.

So which archetype represents the imposter? It’s the Liberator. Remember, I said there are two sides to every archetypal story.

Let’s expose the imposter by deconstructing the Liberator archetype. We’ll start with the downside to expose the imposter and then we’ll finish on the upside to reveal Hannah’s authentic self. Here are six of each for the Liberator archetype that Hannah identified to gain insights into her lack of confidence in starting and operating a counselling business:

Downside of the Liberator Archetype

I asked Hannah to identify and explain the qualities associated with this side of the archetype that represents her imposter in this situation:

1. Self-Doubt: Despite my outward show of supportiveness, underneath I struggle with self-doubt and insecurities. It’s affecting my confidence to confidently start and operate a counseling business.

2. Personal Boundary Issues: I’m afraid that my strong desire to help often will lead me to overextend myself. I’m concerned that I will have difficulty setting boundaries with clients. This could have a negative impact on my ability to manage my business.

3. Perfectionism: I hold myself to a high standard. I will feel inadequate and frustrated if my business does not meet my expectations or worse, it fails.

4. Burnout: The combination of empathising with clients and facing my own confidence issues could make me susceptible to burnout. This will affect my ability to sustain a productive counseling practice.

5. Difficulty with Self-Promotion: I struggle with self-promotion so marketing my counselling business will be a challenge. I feel uncomfortable drawing attention to myself and my services.

6. Decision Paralysis: In moments of uncertainty, I find it challenging to make life-changing decisions. As a result, I delay decision making. I don’t want to miss opportunities to start and grow my counselling practice.

Upside the Liberator Archetype

I’d asked Hannah to identify and explain the qualities associated with this side of the archetype. This side represents aspects of her authentic self in this situation:

1. Empathy: Empathy helps me to connect with clients on a profound level. I can recognise and relate to their struggles with lack of confidence.

2. Supportive: It is natural for me to be supportive and encouraging. This will assist clients dealing with self-doubt and insecurity.

3. Visionary: I have a clear vision for my counselling business. I can easily imagine myself talking with clients, inspiring confidence and direction.

4. Courage: Despite my doubts, I usually have the courage to pursue my dreams and take healthy risks. I can draw on my courage. This will be empowering for me and my clients.

5. Authenticity: I value authenticity and transparency. This creates a genuine and trusting relationship with others and helps them feel safe to open up about their insecurities.

6. Resilience: I am usually resilient in the face of challenges. I tend to bounce back from setbacks and know how to use them as opportunities for growth. I value feedback and take it into consideration. I can be a positive example for clients struggling with confidence issues.

Which archetype represents Hannah’s authentic self? The Liberator. Hannah wants to encourage and support her clients to overcome challenges, improve their mental health, and lead fulfilling lives. And at the same time, Hannah is now aware of, and can address, the downsides of this venture through the Liberator archetype. With a renewed mindset, Hannah is ready to start work on her mindset and her business plan.

You can transform your imposter into a strong support system by acknowledging the unseen contributions it makes to your success. Behind every successful action is a deconstructed and integrated impostor.