The ‘Not Good Enough’ Loop: How to Rewire Your Brain, Build Confidence and Overcome Imposter Syndrome

If you take one thing from this, let it be this: That voice in your head saying you’re not good enough? It’s lying.

It’s not the truth. It’s a well-practiced neural loop, a pattern that’s been reinforced over years. But just like any habit, it can be broken.

The Cycle of "Not Good Enough"

• You hesitate before speaking up in a meeting.

• You compare yourself to others and shrink.

• You avoid trying something new because failure feels inevitable.

  
  

And each time, you strengthen the belief that you’re not enough.

But here’s what’s really happening: Your brain is just doing what it knows. It’s not making a moral judgment about you—it’s running an old, outdated program. And the good news? You can update it.

Step 1: Disrupt the Story

That inner critic isn’t original. It’s repeating something you picked up years ago—a careless comment from a teacher, a disapproving look from a parent, a society that loves to make you doubt yourself.

But ask yourself: Is this true?

Before overcoming imposter syndrome, my brain loved to whisper, “You don’t belong here.” It felt real, but it wasn’t. It was just a practiced pattern. The only way out? To stop unconsciously accepting it as fact.

Step 2: Anchor Into Your Why

Changing beliefs isn’t just about proving the old ones wrong—it’s about having something stronger to replace them with. What do you actually want? What kind of person do you want to be? What matters most to you?

I didn’t just quit alcohol to quit alcohol—I quit because I wanted to feel and live better. I didn’t start speaking up in meetings just to tick a box—I did it because my ideas mattered, and my value wasn’t tied to staying small.

If you’re struggling with self-doubt, reconnect with your bigger vision. Your future self is already waiting—start acting like them now.

Step 3: Act Before You Feel Ready

This is the uncomfortable part.

Your brain wants you to wait until you feel confident. But confidence isn’t a prerequisite—it’s a byproduct. You don’t wake up one day suddenly confident. You gain it through action.

I didn’t fully believe I could run a business until I started. I didn’t fully believe I was good enough to take up space in meetings until I forced myself to speak up, heart pounding.

Each time, I was uncomfortable. Each time, I wanted to retreat. But I kept going, and my brain adjusted. Yours can too.

Step 4: Regulate the Emotions That Show Up

Self-doubt brings up fear. Anxiety. Even grief for the version of you who stayed small for so long.

When you push through old limitations, your nervous system might panic. This is where emotional regulation comes in. Breathwork, meditation and movement help your body process discomfort so you can keep moving forward without getting stuck.

You don’t need to fight your emotions—just learn how to move through them.

Step 5: Let Neuroplasticity Do Its Thing

Your brain is adaptable. When you introduce a new thought, a new behavior, it feels foreign at first—like forcing yourself to write with the opposite hand. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

And the best part? This process happens while you rest.

Your brain rewires itself at night, during deep sleep, during moments of stillness. So if you're showing up, doing the work, but still feeling the doubt—trust the process. The shifts are happening, even if you don’t feel them yet.

The Truth About "Enough"

The belief that you’re not good enough is not an objective fact. It’s a story. A habit. A pattern of neurons firing together. And like any habit, it can be broken.

But here’s the deeper question we don't ask ourselves: What is “enough,” anyway? Where is the finish line? More money? More recognition? More proof? The goalpost always moves when your worth is tied to external markers. Chasing “enough” outside of yourself is a losing game.

You don’t need more talent, more credentials, or permission from anyone else. You just need to stop waiting for confidence to show up and instead start acting like the person you want to become.

That’s how you rewire the belief. That’s how you build a new truth. That’s how you finally step into the person you’ve been all along.

Richie Kyriacou

Mindset Coach and Breathwork Therapist for Professionals struggling with self-doubt, stress and a lack of direction.

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