When the Impostor Hijacks your dreams.

There's a sacred and terrifying space that exists between who you were and who you're becoming.

It's the space of identity transition.

And let me tell you, this is when the impostor syndrome rears its ugly head like the bogeyman who's been hiding in the closet, just waiting for this exact moment to jump out and scare the shit out of you.

*"You're not ready."*

*"You're not good enough."*

*"Who do you think you are?"*

*"Everyone's going to see through you."*

All these scary stories start to come up. You start to doubt everything you're doing. The impostor gets REALLY loud. REALLY scary.

And suddenly, stepping into your new identity feels like standing on the edge of a cliff, being asked to jump without knowing if there's a safety net below.

The Old Skin That No Longer Fits

Here's what nobody tells you about growth: Stepping out of an old identity and into a new one is like changing from a child to a grown-up overnight.

One day, you're operating in a familiar role with familiar rules and familiar expectations. You know who you are. You know how to be that person. It's comfortable, even if it's limiting.

And then something shifts. You evolve. You grow. You step into something bigger.

And suddenly, you're standing there in a new identity that feels like wearing someone else's clothes. It doesn't quite fit yet. You're not sure how to move in it. You feel like an impostor playing dress-up.

My Journey Through Identity Chapters (AKA The Impostor's Greatest Hits)

I have had to transition identities multiple times in my life, and each one has come with its own impostor and bogeyman syndrome. Each one has been painful – letting go of that old identity and stepping into a new one.

From Student to Executive Leader

One of my biggest challenges was stepping out of the identity of a student into that of an executive leader.

For so long, I was the learner. The one asking questions. The one seeking knowledge. The one who didn't have to have all the answers because I was still learning.

And then suddenly, I was supposed to BE the leader. The one with the answers. The one making decisions. The one people looked to for direction.

The impostor screamed: You don't know what you're doing! You're still just a student pretending to be a leader!

From Laura to Dr. Sherwood

Then there was the transition into the role of Dr. Sherwood.

This one was HUGE. This wasn't just a job title change – this was an entire identity shift.

I had spent years – YEARS – working toward my PhD. Overcoming learning disabilities. Fighting through ADHD. Proving to myself and the world that I could do it.

And then I did it. I earned that title.

But stepping into it? Introducing myself as "Dr. Sherwood"? Owning that identity?

The impostor had a field day.

Your degree isn't even real. (Yes, that's what the hater said, remember?)

You're not a 'real' doctor.

What are people going to think?

How do I present myself now?

Oh my God, what's everybody thinking of me?

I had to learn to embody this new identity. To stand in it. To own it. Even when it felt like I was playing pretend.

From Surviving to Thriving

And perhaps the most profound identity shift of all: from **survivor to thriver.

For so long, my identity was wrapped up in what I had survived – addiction, abuse, trauma, poverty, all of it. That was my story. That was who I was.

But at some point, I had to ask myself: **Is this who I want to KEEP being?**

Could I step into a new identity – not as someone defined by what happened TO me, but as someone defined by what I'm creating FOR myself and others?

That transition? That was terrifying. Because if I wasn't the survivor anymore, who was I?

The Impostor's Favorite Hunting Ground

Here's what I've learned: **The impostor syndrome is LOUDEST during identity transitions.**

Why? Because you're in the in-between. You're no longer the old you, but you haven't fully embodied the new you yet.

You're vulnerable. You're uncertain. You're visible in a new way.

And the impostor knows exactly what to whisper:

❌ *"You're a fraud.

❌ *"You don't belong here.

❌ *"You're going to be exposed.

❌ *"Everyone can see you're faking it.

❌ *"You should go back to who you were – at least that was safe.

The impostor wants you to retreat. To shrink. To go back to the old identity because it's familiar, even if it was limiting.

What Women Face During Identity Transitions

Women, especially, face unique challenges during identity transitions:

The "Who Do You Think You Are?" Voice

Society has conditioned women to stay small, to not take up too much space, to not shine too brightly. When you step into a bigger identity, you're going against that conditioning – and the internal backlash can be brutal.

The Juggling Act

Many women are transitioning identities while also being mothers, partners, daughters, and caregivers. You're not just becoming a new version of yourself – you're trying to figure out how this new identity fits with all your other roles.

The Visibility Fear

Stepping into a new identity often means being MORE visible. And for women, visibility comes with risks – judgment, criticism, harassment, the tall poppy syndrome, where others try to cut you down.

The Perfectionism Trap

Women are often expected to have it all figured out before stepping into a new role. But identity transitions are MESSY. You're learning as you go. And that messiness can feel like failure when you're holding yourself to impossible standards.

How to Navigate the Identity Transition (Without Letting the Impostor Win)

So how do we move through these identity transitions without letting the impostor syndrome bogeyman scare us back into our old, small selves?

1. Acknowledge the Transition

Name it. I am in an identity transition. I am becoming someone new. This is uncomfortable, and that's normal.

2. Expect the Impostor to Show Up

It's not a sign that you're doing something wrong. It's a sign that you're growing. The impostor always shows up at the threshold of expansion.

3. Try On the New Identity (Even If It Feels Like a Costume at First)

Practice introducing yourself with your new title. Write your new bio. Dress for the new role. Act as if you already ARE this new version of yourself, even if it feels awkward at first.

Remember: Your brain doesn't know the difference between real and imagined. The more you practice being this new identity, the more your subconscious accepts it as real.

4. Find Your Support Squad

Surround yourself with women who are also stepping into new identities, or who have already made the transition you're attempting. Their belief in you can carry you when your own belief wavers.

5. Reframe the Fear

When the impostor says, "You're not ready," reframe it as: "I'm exactly where I need to be. I'm learning. I'm growing. I'm becoming."

6. Celebrate the Small Wins

Every time you show up in your new identity – even when it's scary, even when you're shaking – that's a win. Acknowledge it.

7. Get Support from Someone Who's Been There

Work with a coach, therapist, or mentor who understands identity transitions and can guide you through the process. You don't have to do this alone.

Let My Experience Be the Light

I'm here to support you through this journey.

I've walked through multiple identity transitions. I've faced the impostor at every threshold. I've stood on the edge of the new, terrified to jump, wondering if I'd survive the fall.

And I'm still here. Thriving. Living in identities that once felt impossible.

Let my experience be the light to guide you out of the dark.

You're not an impostor. You're not a fraud. You're not "faking it."

You're becoming. And becoming is always uncomfortable before it's beautiful.

The Invitation

If you're in an identity transition right now...

If you're stepping out of the old and into the new...

If the impostor is screaming in your ear and you're not sure you can do this...

I see you. I've been you. And I'm here to support you.**

Let's navigate this transition together. Let's quiet the impostor. Let's help you embody the new identity that's calling you forward.

Because the world needs the woman you're becoming – not the woman you used to be.

Ready to step into your new identity with support, guidance, and someone who's walked this path?** Schedule a session with Dr. Laura Sherwood and Transformative Arts Project Inc. **[Book your identity transition support session today](#)** and let's get you through this threshold and into your power.

You're not an impostor. You're a woman in transition. And that's the bravest thing you can be. 💫👑

Warmest,

Dr. Sherwood

#NewVibeCoaching #MakingAnImpact #IdentityTransition #ImpostorSyndrome #BecomeWhoYouAre