‘Imposter Syndrome’ Can’t Survive a Firewalk
There’s something firewalking reveals that no classroom, journal prompt or mindset hack can reach. It burns through illusion.
The illusion that says you’re not good enough. That you don’t belong in the room. That somehow, everyone else has the secret and you just got lucky.
That phrase we hear over and over again, imposter syndrome, sounds serious, doesn’t it? But let’s get honest about what it really is, what it isn’t, and what the fire shows us.
Because imposter syndrome doesn’t survive a firewalk.
When someone walks across the fire barefoot, they don’t just face fear. They face the beliefs that have kept them playing small. And what they find isn’t an imposter. It’s someone fully awake to their next level.
What Actually Makes Something a Syndrome?
In psychology, a syndrome is defined as a consistent cluster of symptoms that show up over time and significantly disrupt a person’s ability to function. For something to be classed as a syndrome, it needs to be persistent, patterned and internal. Not just a reaction to pressure, nerves or change.
Imposter syndrome, originally called the Imposter Phenomenon, was introduced in 1978 by Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes. It described high-achieving individuals who, despite clear evidence of their success, felt like frauds and feared being exposed.
That’s real. But here’s what the research tells us.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
In a comprehensive review, researchers found that up to 70 percent of people experience imposter-type feelings at some point in their life. That might look like the wobble before a presentation, the nerves before stepping into a new role, or that flash of doubt just before doing something bold.
But only 25 to 30 percent of those people experience the kind of persistent, internalised pattern that would qualify as true imposter syndrome.
So out of every 100 people who say “I’ve got imposter syndrome,” only 25 to 30 actually meet the clinical definition.
The rest have been mislabelled. And that mislabelling matters because the moment we call it a syndrome, we tell our brains, “This is who I am.” That label sticks. And it’s much harder to grow beyond something we believe is part of our identity.
What About Gender?
Research has often focused on women when talking about imposter syndrome, especially in high-achieving environments. But more recent studies show that it’s not exclusive. While around 75 percent of women report imposter-type feelings at some point in their career, nearly 50 percent of men say the same. The difference is often in how it shows up. Women tend to internalise it by doubting their ability or downplaying their strengths. Men may externalise it by working harder to prove themselves or avoiding vulnerability. The truth is, imposter beliefs don’t discriminate. They affect people across industries, backgrounds and roles. What matters is recognising them for what they are: a pattern, not a personality. A belief, not your truth.
That’s Why I Call It an Imposter Belief
The true definition of a belief is this. A belief is a thought or conviction that you accept as true. But here’s the deeper layer. A belief is not necessarily a fact. It’s a point of view you’ve chosen, often shaped by experiences, conditioning, repetition and emotion, and then reinforced by the actions you take and the evidence you gather.
Put simply, a belief is a thought you’ve decided to trust. It becomes part of your identity. And once you believe something about yourself, others or the world, your mind starts filtering reality to prove it right.
That’s why beliefs feel so real. But they are not fixed. They can be challenged, changed and even burned away when they no longer serve who you’re becoming.
A syndrome sounds like a diagnosis. A belief is something you get to walk through and outgrow.
And firewalking is one of the most powerful ways to do that.
You can’t overthink your way through 600 degrees. You can’t pretend your way across hot embers. The fire asks for presence. It calls for focus. It only responds to someone who is all in.
That’s why imposter beliefs don’t stand a chance. When someone finishes that walk, they don’t just feel more confident. They feel true. Because in that moment, they’ve stopped performing and started becoming.
What Firewalking Shows Us About Growth
What many people describe as imposter syndrome is often just the stretch of stepping into something bigger. It’s the sensation of your identity catching up with your potential. That wobble, that nervousness, that deep desire to do it right, isn’t a flaw. It’s a sign you care. It’s a sign you’re growing.
The truth is, readiness doesn’t feel like certainty. It feels like stretching. Walking through fire doesn’t mean you stop feeling fear. It means you stop letting it decide for you.
The Body Doesn’t Lie
Once your body has done what your mind said was impossible, something shifts. You don’t need permission anymore. You’ve got proof.
You’ve felt what it means to hold your nerve. To trust your feet. To walk forward anyway. That memory lives in your nervous system. And it changes how you enter rooms, hold conversations, lead, speak and show up.
Let’s Call It What It Is
So if you’ve been telling yourself “I have imposter syndrome,” ask this. Is it constant? Has it controlled your life? Or is it just fear whispering as you rise?
Because the moment you realise it’s a belief, not a diagnosis, you’re already walking through it.
And if you’re ready to shift that belief, here’s a five-step process I give to my clients when the doubt creeps in.
1. Pause and Get Curious
Ask yourself, “Is this fear or is this truth?” Often, it’s just your nervous system reacting to expansion. Don’t judge it. Just name it.
2. Return to Evidence
Write down the facts. Not the feelings. What have you achieved? Who have you impacted? Use truth to anchor your identity.
3. Create a Legacy Log
Keep a running list of your wins, breakthroughs and moments where you helped someone else rise. Not to brag. To remember. (Because there’s a part of your brain doing the opposite so let’s create balance.)
4. Interrupt the Loop – PATTERN INTERRUPT
Imposter beliefs run like old scripts. When you notice the loop … pause it. Say something different “NOT NOW … THANK YOU!”. Stand taller. Take a breath. Break the pattern and choose again. Every interruption is a win.
When sharing your doubts
5. Reframe the Moment
Shift from “I don’t belong here” to “This is new, not wrong.” From “I’m nervous” to “I care deeply.” From “I’m faking it” to “I’m becoming it.”
This process isn’t about fixing you. It’s about reconnecting you with what’s always been there.
When You’re Ready
If you’re ready to burn through that label once and for all, I’ll be standing beside you, barefoot on the embers, knowing exactly what’s waiting on the other side. OR maybe you’re feeling the call to help people yourself … then let’s chat about the Firewalk & Empowerment Instructor Training coming up soon.
I’m here for you. No judgement. Just clarity, fire and focus. Reach out when you’re ready.
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