The other day, a colleague called me “perfect.”

My immediate reaction? A mix of shock, confusion, and the urge to check if they were talking to the actual design genius standing behind me. Because let’s be honest, I don’t feel perfect. Not even close.

I overthink, I get imposter syndrome, and I have spent far too long agonising over whether a logo should move one pixel to the left or if I’m about to commit a crime against good design. (Spoiler: no one notices. Except me. Forever.)

But this comment got me thinking. The way we see ourselves is often completely different from how others see us.

The Mismatch Between Perception and Reality

We all walk around carrying our self-doubts like an overstuffed tote bag. We focus on the awkward moments, the tiny mistakes, and the things we think people judge us for.

Remember that email you sent where you panicked about whether you sounded too aggressive because you didn’t add an exclamation mark? Or that time you named a file Final_V3_ACTUALLYFINAL_THISONE.psd and wondered if your career was a lie?

Meanwhile, the people around you aren’t zooming in on those tiny moments. They see you as someone skilled, capable, and, somehow, a person who has it together. Even when you feel like you’re running on coffee and chaos.

Why Showing Up as Yourself Matters

So many of us feel pressure to present the “polished” version of ourselves, especially in professional spaces. We craft our LinkedIn profiles to sound confident, we tweak our portfolios until they’re pixel-perfect, and we assume everyone else has it figured out while we’re just winging it.

The truth? Everyone is winging it to some degree. And the more you show up as your real, imperfect, slightly chaotic but brilliant self, the more people connect with you. No one is drawn to perfection; they’re drawn to authenticity.

As Marianne Williamson famously said:

“Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world.”

That’s the real takeaway. Playing small, doubting yourself, and assuming you’re not good enough isn’t helping you or anyone else. The world needs your ideas, your perspective, and yes, even your Final_V3_REALLYFINAL_THISISTHEONE.psd moments.

You Are More Impressive Than You Realise

So next time you catch yourself thinking, “I’m not good enough” or “They must think I’m a disaster” pause for a second. The way you see yourself isn’t always reality. And chances are, you’re far more brilliant than you give yourself credit for.

Now, tell me—have you ever been completely surprised by how someone else sees you? Have you ever been mistaken for someone who actually has their life together? Drop your stories in the comments. I’d love to hear them.

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