The things we don’t talk about - Imposter Syndrome.
Talofa lava and Welcome back to The Talanoa Lounge
In Episode 2, I sat down for a real Talanoa about something that creeps in quietly but can take up so much space in our minds — imposter syndrome.
You know that feeling of being somewhere — whether it's work, uni, or even around others — and asking yourself:
“Do I even belong here?”
“What if I’m not as capable as they think I am?”
“What if I mess this up?”
Yep. That inner critic is LOUD sometimes.
The Silent Struggle We Don’t Talk About Enough
For us as Pasifika, these feelings often come from layers of unspoken pressure:
To be humble. To not stand out too much. To not get things “wrong.”
But what happens is… even when we’ve earned our spot, we second-guess ourselves.
We feel like we need to prove our worth ten times over, just to feel seen. And it’s exhausting.
How I’ve Been Working Through It
To be honest, I still feel it. Even in my mahi, even with this podcast — that little voice still tries to creep in sometimes.
But here’s what’s helped me:
Recognising that it’s there.
Sometimes that’s half the battle — just noticing when your thoughts are spiralling into self-doubt.
Detaching from emotional mind and tuning into logic.
I ask myself: What are the actual facts?
Have I done the mahi? Am I passionate about what I do? Have I helped people?
The answer is yes. And that matters.
Remembering that not everything is taught in textbooks.
Life teaches us in ways no uni course ever could.
Lived experience is powerful.
It shapes how we support others, how we connect, how we show up — especially in community-based spaces like ours.
So when that inner critic shows up now, I meet it with compassion — but I also remind myself:
You’ve overcome too much to question your seat at the table now.
A Word to You, If You’re Feeling It Too
If imposter syndrome has been whispering in your ear lately, let me tell you something I wish I heard earlier:
You are not a fraud.
You’re just growing into new spaces.
And that can feel uncomfortable, but it’s also where the magic happens.
You belong. You bring value. Your story matters.
Not despite your lived experiences, but because of them.
