The Credentialed Imposter...

Why your résumé can't calm your nervous system (and what actually works)

Jacqueline Twillie
June 12, 2025

Weekly roundup

Hey resilient leaders! Here’s what’s happening this week

Even with impressive credentials, that "Do I belong here?" feeling can sabotage your confidence. Learn the neuroscience behind imposter syndrome and discover identity anchoring—the tool that grounds you when your nervous system betrays your experience.

Last Week, we discussed the 48-hour rule.

Bouncing Back & Moving Forward

Last week, we covered how to bounce back from mistakes in 48 hours. This week, I want to talk about something that happens before the error, that split second when your brain decides you don't belong, even when you absolutely do.

Gif by nbc on Giphy

Picture this: You walk into a meeting with every credential, every talking point, and every right to lead the discussion. But somehow, you still feel like you have to prove you belong there.

Sound familiar?

Uncomfortable but growing

My nervous system was reacting

And even though I knew I had every reason to be confident, that "Do I measure up?" feeling snuck in.

This happened to me recently, but not at work. I signed up for a creative writing class in Paris.

As a two-time bestselling author with three books under my belt, writing isn't new territory for me.

But this room had a different vibe. Deep storytelling, poetic critiques, big emotions everywhere.

No one said I didn't belong. Everyone was kind. But my brain went straight into comparison mode.

The belonging trap

Your brain's threat detection system

Your brain's threat detection system doesn't care about your résumé. It's scanning for social safety: "Am I accepted here? Do I fit in?" And when it detects even the slightest difference in background, style, or energy, it can trigger that outsider alarm.

The problem isn't the feeling itself. It's that we think the feeling means something about our worthiness to be there.

Instead of fighting the feeling or trying to prove yourself through performance

The identity anchor solution

You need what I call an identity anchor, a grounding reminder of who you are, based on your values and lived experiences, rather than your titles or achievements.

In that Paris classroom, my anchor wasn't "I'm a bestselling author." It was "I'm someone who believes stories have the power to connect and heal." That value transcends any room I walk into.

Your turn: The next time you catch yourself asking "Do I belong here?" try this:

Notice the feeling without judgment
Remind yourself of one core value that brought you to this space
Take one small action from that value (ask a thoughtful question, offer genuine support, share an authentic perspective
You're not trying to prove you belong. You're remembering that you already do.
What's one room where you need this reminder most?

That’s it for this week.

If you're ready to build unshakeable confidence that holds up under pressure, the Resilient Leaders Program starts June 30, 2025.

We dive deep into identity anchoring, brain-body connection, and the neuroscience of confidence. Only 10 seats remaining. [Learn more here]

Jacqueline