What You’re Looking For Is Looking Back at You

Over the past few weeks, something interesting has been happening.  I’ve talked about the subject of

Imposter Syndrome previously, but more has happened, or come across my mental and emotional “screen” lately.

I’ve found myself seeing things differently—not because the world changed, but because I’ve been gaining perspective from others. Conversations have felt richer. Insights have landed deeper. It’s almost as if I’m noticing things that were always there… but I just wasn’t tuned into them.

Which makes me wonder: Maybe my reticular activating system is finally waking up.

If you’re not familiar with it, the reticular activating system (RAS) is essentially the brain’s filter. It determines what gets your attention and what gets ignored. It’s why when you buy a new car, you suddenly see that same car everywhere. It was always there—you just weren’t looking for it.

And lately, I think I’ve been “looking for” growth.  (I’ve talked about this subject of imposter syndrome previously, but more has happened, or come across my mental and emotional “screen” through my RAS filter.)

But here’s where it gets more personal.

Because what we look for isn’t always positive. Sometimes, our RAS is tuned to something else entirely: Imposter syndrome.   Defined simply, it’s the fear that others will eventually uncover your perceived weakness and question your competence the same way you already do.

And that fear has a pattern. It convinces you that your success isn’t really yours—that it’s luck, timing, or someone else’s mistake. It tells you that eventually, the truth will come out. That you don’t belong.

Sound familiar? I’ve lived that. From the field to the manufacturing floor, I’ve wrestled with that quiet voice that says, “You’re not enough for this moment.” And if I’m honest, that voice doesn’t just disappear. But I’ve learned something: What your mind searches for, it strengthens. If your internal filter is set to doubt, you’ll find evidence of doubt. If it’s set to growth, you’ll start to see opportunity. That’s where leadership begins.

At Leadership Harbor, we talk about Model – Focus – Equip. Not as theory—but as a way to navigate moments exactly like this.

Model starts with knowing yourself.

Not the polished version. The real one.

It’s understanding your tendencies—your doubts, your strengths, your patterns. It’s also envisioning who you’re becoming, not just who you’ve been.

Modeling requires intentionality. It requires stepping into discomfort—into pain—and choosing to grow through it rather than avoid it. It takes energy to face that tension, to stay in it long enough to learn.

And over time, you begin to develop your own process—your own system—for how you show up and succeed.

It’s one thing to recognize imposter syndrome. It’s another to move anyway. Focus is that internal decision that says, “This matters—and I’m going after it.” It’s prioritizing what’s truly important to the larger vision, not just what feels urgent or safe. It’s persistence when things don’t click immediately. Determination when doubt creeps in. And yes—tenacity. Because growth doesn’t respond to hesitation. It responds to movement.

Equip is where growth becomes sustainable.

You start to understand your “lid”—the current limit of your skills, your mindset, your experience. And instead of being discouraged by it, you get intentional about lifting it. You stretch. Like a rubber band, you’re only useful when you expand beyond where you are. Staying comfortable might feel safe, but it doesn’t create growth.

Equipping also means evaluating your environment.

Are you surrounded by people who challenge you? Support you? Help you see what you can’t yet see?

Because the right environment doesn’t remove pressure—it channels it into growth.

And over time, you realize something powerful: You already have more than you think. And when you don’t—you know how to go get it.

So where does that leave us? Right back at the filter. Your RAS is always working—whether you’re aware of it or not. The question is:

What are you training it to see?

Are you reinforcing doubt? Or are you building evidence that you’re growing into the role you’ve been given?

For me, it’s come down to three daily anchors:

1. Wake up and ask: What do you have for me today? (An open posture to growth—wherever it comes from.)

2. Remind yourself: I am made for this moment. (Not because you know everything—but because you’re willing to grow into it.)

3. Commit to this: I am here to serve. (Not to prove, not to sell—but to contribute.)

Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear when you arrive somewhere. It evolves as you grow. But so can you.

Tune your focus. Step into the tension.  Build the habits that reinforce who you’re becoming. Because the truth is— You don’t eliminate doubt by waiting. You outgrow it by leading anyway. And sometimes…

You just need to swing. In case you hit it.

And next time, we take this to the next level, elite performance!

Brian