I doubt myself every day. I pretty much don’t feel like I deserve everything I have. Like if I have something good, I probably tricked someone to get it. I feel that way in relationships, in academics, and in the workforce. And I’ve been this way for a long time.
I think it stems in not having a lot of people believe in me growing up. I had a few teachers here and there but I never had a role model who told me I deserved getting into college or getting a good job. There was no one really to guide me.
In my last role, I kind of had it. That’s why I think I felt comfortable taking a promotion. But being laid off doesn’t really help the whole “confidence” thing.
And since I have such a strong sense of imposter syndrome, I counteract it with false confidence. Which I guess is a good thing because they kind of cancel each other out, but it’s exhausting to think you’re not good enough for something and then have to fake like you feel good enough for it.
It’s like a constant tug of war, and when my false confidence goes too far and I do something wrong, it feels like I’ve just exposed myself. Even though realistically I know everyone makes mistakes, I know not everyone can know everything – I still feel like I’m not good enough.
Rosie Culture 
I feel this to a T. I know I work hard, but I convince myself that it’s not hard enough and I don’t deserve the nice things I have. It makes it very hard to be willing to try to move up in the professional world.
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Isn’t it? I honestly don’t feel like I’ll ever work outside the level I’m out now I don’t think I could ever be a manager or higher up than that
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Yes I feel exactly this! And it doesn’t help that it’s a pandemic and people that were managers are now going for the job level I’m currently in.
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Which is actually me haha! I took a level down position after getting laid off and now feel even more imposter syndrome because adjusting to a new company was hard idk if I deserved to be at the level I was previously
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Position ranks are so hard to understand!
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Thank you for sharing. I’m right there with you. I’ve felt this way for a while, and it feels like it has only gotten clearer with us working from home. Specifically, attending virtual conferences or webinars of people in the same position as me, constantly makes me feel unqualified..and I’m afraid that my managers will soon see it, too.
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You should ask for feedback from your managers! They usually tell me I’m doing well or give me criticism so I can do better. It helps me combat those negative feelings a little bit
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