There’s often a nagging feeling lurking beneath the surface, despite any outward appearances of competence or achievement. It is the persistent belief that I’m a fraud. I feel like I’m somehow faking it, and that the inevitable exposure is just around the corner. This, my friends, is the delightful phenomenon known as impostor syndrome. It’s a frequent and unwelcome visitor in my mental landscape.

It doesn’t matter if I’ve actually accomplished something, received positive feedback, or demonstrated a certain level of skill. The underlying feeling persists: I’m not really qualified. I don’t really know what I’m doing. It’s only a matter of time before everyone else figures out that I’m just winging it.

This feeling can be particularly insidious because it often strikes when things are going well. I often fail to allow myself to enjoy a success. I don’t acknowledge my abilities. Instead, I attribute success to luck, someone else’s oversight, or simply managing to fool people. The idea that I actually am competent feels foreign and unsettling.

The fear of being “found out” can be paralyzing. It leads to over preparation. There is a constant striving for perfection, which, as we know, is an unattainable goal. This often just fuels procrastination. There is also a reluctance to take risks or put myself forth for new opportunities. Why bother, if I’m just going to be exposed as a fraud anyway?

Overcoming impostor syndrome is a constant battle against my own internal narrative. It requires consciously challenging those negative thoughts. I must acknowledge my accomplishments. I also need to learn to accept that imperfection is a normal part of the human experience. It’s about recognizing that feeling like an impostor doesn’t actually make me one.