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By Aaron Woon 

Have you ever felt that you are actually not as good as you are, regardless of it being in the area of your career or potential? Every one of us would have felt that way once or twice in our life. 

When we think that we are not as capable or as smart as what other people think we are, this is called imposter syndrome. When we are having imposter syndrome, we would have self-doubts about ourselves. There would also be an irrational fear of people finding out that we are not who we claim to be and they would expose us as a fraud. 

People with imposter syndrome would experience success at work but would attribute it to being lucky instead of acknowledging that their hard work and talents got them to where they are. These people might put in extra hard work because they feel like they don’t deserve the credit for their success. 

In relationships, one party would feel like they do not deserve the love and affection given by their partner and they would end up sabotaging the relationship themselves. 

If you have been doubting yourself, you should learn to discern your feelings from what is factual. Every time when you feel that you do not deserve what you achieve, always remind yourself that you have worked hard to earn your success. However, if you fail in a certain task, you could try harder and there’s always a learning opportunity.  

You should also make an effort to remember when someone congratulates you or thank you for doing a good job in a certain area. The idea of remembering your accomplishments would help you not doubt your capabilities. 

Most importantly, you should stop comparing yourself to others. If you still think that you are an imposter, try talking to a friend or colleague about your feelings. They would be able to reassure you that you are truly capable in what you have been doing. Perfectionism is also a contributor to imposter syndrome so it is best to not compare ourselves with other successful people. 

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher