I got a job that I had worked hard for for years. Countless sleepless nights were spent, mornings began with a mixture of confidence and fear. When I finally got the letter of the desired job, everyone said, “You can do it. You are ready for this place.” But you know, I was still asking myself—“Do I really deserve this job?”
This feeling is the imposter syndrome. From the outside, everyone sees that you are successful, you are worthy, you are talented. But inside, you ask yourself, “Do I deserve this?” This feeling did not come suddenly one day. Rather, a fear and doubt gradually began to build within me, “If everyone finds out, am I really not that good?”
At first, I did not attach importance to these feelings. I thought, it was a matter of time. But when the fear inside me started to eat me up after every successful moment, then I realized that it had spread a terrible root in my mind.
On the day of the interview, there was a war going on inside my mind. I was smiling on the outside, answering the questions with confidence, but inside I was thinking, "What if they find out, I'm not that qualified?" Even though I knew I had worked hard, I knew I was ready, yet that inner 'no' was not letting me calm down.
But gradually I realized one thing—this feeling was not mine alone. Many others felt the same way, even people who had achieved great things. I started talking openly with my friends. Hearing about other people's experiences from them gave me immense courage. I realized that it was not just me—many people feel inferior despite their achievements.
I learned to tell myself—"You are here because you deserve it." I would write down my small successes every day, which would restore my confidence. I would remind myself, "You can do it, because you prepared."
That fear, that doubt, still comes back sometimes. But now I know how to deal with it. I know, I worked hard, I learned, I made myself. And if someone sees that and praises me, it is not a mistake, it is a reality.
Imposter syndrome means that you are not weak, but rather you are aware. But if that awareness is holding you back, then you have to break it. Because, we all deserve our success—we have achieved it with labor, sweat, and patience.
The last thing is that if your inner voice says, “You can’t do it”, then ask yourself a question “If I wasn’t worthy, then how did I get this far?” The day you find the answer, that day you will understand that you are both your biggest critic and your biggest encourage.