Do you feel like a fraud? I do too. I'm getting better at hiding it.
People are relying on me.
What if I'm not good enough?
Maybe I wasn't meant for this?
How long can I hide the fact that I'm way out of my depth?
You're feeling like an imposter because you expect yourself not to be one.
But we're all imposters. We are all clueless. Nobody knows what they're doing. Especially at first.
You're probably comparing yourself to others. Survivorship bias. You see the tip of the iceberg. You don't see the years of struggle and countless mistakes that made them who they are today.
Remind yourself that most of the pressure and anxiety you're feeling today is self-inflicted. You're expecting too much of yourself.
How about what others think of you? This may sound harsh, but embracing the following is liberating.
Nobody is watching your every move.
Nobody cares about what you do as much as you do.
Nobody is expecting more from you than you do.
We're all too busy with our own problems to care about how others go about their lives.
Besides, don't assume you can fool people.
People won't rely on you if they don't think you're reliable. No need to pressure yourself. Do what you can, and let others be the judge. Just don't oversell!
And also, remember that if you've been given the chance to do something new, to take on more responsibilities, that's because people believe in you.
Believe in them.