EP 3: The Being Yourself in Business Podcast
Episode 3: Understanding Imposter Syndrome (Part 2) – Shame, Scarcity, and Imposter Syndrome
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In this episode, Understanding Imposter Syndrome (Part 2): Naming the Beast, I explore:
How shame and scarcity fuel imposter syndrome and keep us stuck in cycles of self-doubt.
Why recognizing this link can help us approach imposter syndrome with compassion instead of criticism.
Practical strategies I use to unlearn shame and embrace confidence, like focusing on process goals and working from calm.
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Hey friends, welcome back to the Being Yourself in Business Podcast. I’m your host, Sydney Fletcher, and I’m so glad you’re here. This is the podcast where we explore how heart-centered entrepreneurs like you can build a business and a life that feel authentic, aligned, and deeply meaningful.
At the time I’m recording this, we’re digging into our initial explorations around money in The Heartwork Collective. For those of you who might be new to my world, money and our relationship to it is the theme of our winter semester. Last week, we started to unpack how those of us living in North America are immersed in a culture of scarcity—and one of the foundational elements of that culture is shame.
Both scarcity and shame play a significant role in shaping our relationship to money, both societally and individually. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how pivotal shame is in creating and perpetuating imposter syndrome. In fact, imposter syndrome—just like scarcity—relies on shame. So in today’s episode, we’re going to explore how shame and scarcity fuel imposter syndrome, why it’s helpful to see this connection, and how we can start unlearning shame as a means to unlearn imposter syndrome.
Section 1: Recap of the Previous Episode
Before we dive in, let’s take a quick moment to recap last week’s episode. We talked all about imposter syndrome—what it is, why heart-centered entrepreneurs feel it so deeply, and how we can start to work with it instead of letting it hold us back.
I shared some personal stories about grappling with imposter syndrome in my roles as a graphic designer, yoga instructor, and coach. We talked about how creativity and self-doubt often go hand in hand, especially for empathetic and sensitive people. And we explored practical strategies like building self-awareness, naming your imposter syndrome, and responding to it with compassion.
Today, we’re taking it one step further by looking at how shame and scarcity fuel imposter syndrome, and what we can do to loosen their grip.
Section 2: Shame, Scarcity, and Imposter Syndrome
Let’s start by defining shame. Shame is that painful feeling of I’m not good enough. It’s deeply personal, yet it thrives in the collective culture many of us grew up in—a culture built on scarcity.
Scarcity says, There’s not enough to go around. Shame whispers, You’re not enough. These two forces feed off each other and create the perfect conditions for imposter syndrome to flourish. When we internalize scarcity—the belief that resources, opportunities, or success are limited—it’s easy to feel like we’re not worthy or capable of claiming our share. And that’s where imposter syndrome comes in.
Imposter syndrome thrives on this idea of "not enoughness"—not smart enough, not talented enough, not experienced enough. And it keeps us stuck in a cycle of comparison, perfectionism, and self-doubt.
Section 3: Personal Story as a Teaching Moment
I want to share a personal story to illustrate how shame shows up in real time. A few years ago, I was preparing to record a video for a retreat I was hosting. I was excited, but as soon as I hit record, I froze. My brain was spinning with thoughts like, Who am I to do this? What if it’s not good enough? I kept rerecording, trying to make it perfect, but the more I tried, the more paralyzed I felt.
Looking back, I can see that shame was at the root of those thoughts. I was afraid of being seen, of being judged, of not measuring up. And perfectionism—a hallmark of scarcity culture—only amplified the shame. Instead of focusing on the message I wanted to share, I got caught up in proving my worth.
Section 4: Why Seeing the Link Helps
So why is it helpful to see the link between shame, scarcity, and imposter syndrome? Because when we understand that imposter syndrome is fueled by shame, we can start to approach it differently. Instead of trying to "fix" ourselves, we can focus on building awareness and responding with presence and with compassion.
This shift is powerful because it allows us to step out of the scarcity mindset and into a more abundant, self-accepting place. It reminds us that we don’t have to earn our worth—we already have it. And it gives us permission to show up imperfectly, knowing that our value isn’t tied to our achievements.
Section 5: Strategies for Unlearning Shame
Let’s talk about some strategies for unlearning shame and loosening the grip of imposter syndrome:
Process Goals vs. Outcome GoalsOne of the ways to disrupt shame is by shifting from outcome-focused goals to process-focused goals. Instead of asking, How can I make this perfect? ask, How can I approach this in a way that feels aligned and authentic?
For example, if you’re writing a blog post, focus on enjoying the process of writing and expressing yourself, rather than fixating on how many views it will get.
Working from CalmAnother helpful mantra is: What would this look like if I did it from calm? This is a practice I use often, especially when I’m feeling overwhelmed or stuck. When we work from calm, we create space for curiosity and creativity—and we quiet the voice of shame.
Micro-ChallengeHere’s a challenge for you this week: Pick one task that feels intimidating and use the mantra, This doesn’t have to be perfect. Notice how it feels to approach it with curiosity instead of criticism.
Section 6: Reflection and Connection
Before we wrap up, I want to leave you with a couple of reflective prompts:
Where does shame show up in your business? How does it affect your confidence and decision-making?
What would it feel like to approach your next project with kindness instead of criticism?
Take some time to journal or reflect on these questions. And if you’re open to it, I’d love to hear your insights—feel free to reach out and share what comes up for you.
Closing Affirmation
Shame is a heavy thing to carry, but it’s not something you have to carry alone. You are enough just as you are. Unlearning shame is a process, and you’re already taking steps by building awareness and showing up for yourself. Keep going—you’ve got this.
Thank you so much for joining me today. If this episode resonated with you and you’d like to unlearn shame and imposter syndrome within a supportive community, I’d love for you to explore The Heartwork Collective.
The doors to the spring semester are now open—head to sydneyfletcher.com/the-heartwork-collective to learn more.
I’ll see you next month for another episode of the Being Yourself in Business Podcast. Until then, take care and keep being you.
