"You’re a fraud, Dimitri." That was the thought playing on loop as I stood in my restaurant kitchen one breathless summer evening. I had been managing the family’s boutique hotel on Santorini for a while, weaving my love for hospitable warmth together with the calm assurance of sunset views and Aegean breezes. But deep down? The whispers of self-doubt were an unwelcome but persistent soundtrack.

A customer once told me, "This feels like home but with better tzatziki." Did I smile outwardly? Absolutely. Did I spiral inwardly for hours, convinced I didn’t deserve even that tiny sliver of praise? Of course. Impostor syndrome is sneaky that way. It glamours your achievements, reframing them as flukes or favors rather than the result of your hard work.

Fast forward a decade, and I've shifted from sautéing calamari to sautéing words (which, admittedly, don’t burn as easily). But the impostor feelings? They followed me like a stubborn olive pit lodged where it doesn’t belong. Whether it’s in the kitchen or typing at my desk today, they’ve taught me something crucial: overcoming self-doubt isn’t about deleting the voice; it’s about lowering its volume.

Let’s talk about how that happens—and how, dear reader, you can reach for your own inner authority. It's not wizardry, I promise. Just a few light revelations seasoned with olive oil and a dash of curiosity.

Why We All Feel Like Frogs in Prince Costumes (Spoiler: You’re Not Alone)

Impostor syndrome is one of those things nearly everyone wrestles with—yet we all assume it’s our dirty little secret. Like having a go-to ugly cry movie (mine’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding—don’t judge).

Studies show around 70% of people experience impostor thoughts at some point. Even Maya Angelou admitted she’d think, “Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.”

If Maya freakin’ Angelou felt like this, you can bet it’s not just you. But why do we let these feelings take over?

  1. Perfectionism’s Evil Twin. Perfectionism convinces you nothing you achieve is "enough." Impostor syndrome feeds off this by nudging, "Yeah, but what about that one tiny mistake you made back in 2008?"

  2. Comparison Kills Confidence. Social media doesn’t help. Seeing someone else’s highlight reel can make us spiral. (Plot twist: their selfie took 37 tries and some Photoshop, so relax.)

  3. Your Inner Critic is… Extra. Most of us don’t need external critics—the Michelangelo of Doubt lives in our own head. It’s skilled, persistent, and ridiculously unhireable for anything productive.

Crushing Impostor Syndrome, Dimitri Style (Plato Would Approve)

Call me dramatic, but I needed the philosophy of Aristotle to shake this off. (What’s more Greek than philosophizing a crisis?) Aristotle spoke of ethos—your credibility, developed by lived integrity. That means you don’t need applause to validate your expertise because your actions prove your worth.

Still, I also had a practical approach. Here’s my recipe for silencing that nagging voice.

1. Celebrate Your “Small Plates”

I grew up in kitchens where meze—little dishes—reigned supreme. The beauty? They pack huge flavor into small bites. Apply this to your self-doubt. Don’t wait for dramatic milestone achievements to pat yourself on the back. Celebrate the small moments: the successful morning presentation, a kind review, a day you chose courage over comfort.

Turn each win into a little mental meze plate. Before long, you’ll have a full table’s worth of victories.

2. Stop Competing with Poseidon

On Santorini, trying to compete with the blue-domed churches and sweeping sunsets is futile. What can you possibly create that will “outdo” nature? Similarly, comparing yourself to others is equally hopeless. Aside from being bad for the soul, it’s simply not fair. You’re judging your behind-the-scenes against someone’s curated Instagram front.

Comparison doesn’t just steal your joy—it holds your craft hostage. Stay in your lane, and plate your dish (or your idea) the best way you know how.

3. Laugh at Your Inner Troll

Remember that “Michelangelo of Doubt” I mentioned? Calling out your inner self-critic with humor disarms its power. For instance, after fixing an editor’s typo in one of my early articles, my brain hissed, “Fraud.” Instead of crumbling, I chuckled and imagined my brain wearing a pencil skirt, glasses, and wielding a mallet like some overzealous newsroom villain.

Once you reframe self-doubt as melodrama, you realize it’s far less intimidating—and honestly a little annoying.

4. Fake It Like a Grown-Up

Here’s a little secret: no one knows what they’re doing. Some people are just better at pretending. When I transitioned from running hotels to writing about relationships, there were days I felt like I was trying to speak Mandarin while juggling fire. So I took an ancient Greek approach: phronesis—practical wisdom. I told myself, “Someone thought you could do this. Trust their belief until you build your own.”

Fake confidence long enough, and pretty soon, it’s not faking anymore. Confidence comes with doing, even if you’re terrified in the moment.

5. Scrap the Myth of “Ready”

You know that magical day in the future when you’ll feel “ready” for big opportunities? It doesn’t exist. “Ready” is a mirage that’s tricked us all into waiting instead of doing. When I first opened my boutique hotel, I didn’t know what I was doing. But had I waited until some mythical readiness arrived, I’d still be twiddling my thumbs instead of watching guests return year after year.

Your best friend here? Action. Confidence is built brick by brick through experiences—both successes and failures.

The Takeaway: Own It (Tzatziki Optional)

Impostor syndrome never completely disappears. Even as I type this, there’s a soft whisper in the back of my mind asking, “Was that funny enough? Insightful enough? Relevant enough?” The difference now? I don’t invite that voice to dinner anymore.

Amor fati,* the ancient Stoics said: love your fate. I’ve expanded that—love your flaws, your hesitations, and heck, even your impostor thoughts. They’re proof you care deeply about what you’re doing. And if self-doubt creeps in? You’ve got this guide and some tzatziki as backup.

So here’s my challenge to you: celebrate those small plates of progress, compare yourself only to the you of yesterday, and, above all, don’t let self-doubt keep you panicking in the kitchen. The world’s waiting for what you’re cooking up. Go plate it.