When You Feel Like an Impostor in Your Own Life

I’ve been with my current job for over a decade. I started when I was just out of college and everything felt fresh, new, exciting. Over the years, I’ve climbed the ranks from entry-level to manager and now, as deputy director, I oversee a team that’s larger than what I had back then. But despite all this progress, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed: my deep-rooted feeling of not really belonging here. Every day, I wake up with this gnawing sense of doubt in the pit of my stomach. It feels like I’m walking around pretending to be someone else, a fraud who stumbled her way into a position she doesn’t deserve. My colleagues have come and gone over the years; some are fresh graduates, others more experienced. Yet, no matter how many times I remind myself that I’ve earned every promotion through hard work and perseverance, this feeling never goes away. Sometimes, when we’re in meetings discussing complex projects or strategies, my mind blanks out momentarily. In those moments, all I can think is, 'What am I doing here? I don’t know what I’m talking about.' It’s a bizarre experience because usually, I’m the one leading these discussions and coming up with ideas. I’ve confided in a few close friends who say it’s just imposter syndrome. They tell me that everyone feels this way sometimes and to not be too hard on myself. But even after hearing their reassurances countless times, those doubts resurface like clockwork every time I step into the office building or start my workday. I try my best to push through it, focusing on tasks and responsibilities instead of letting those negative thoughts take over. But lately, they’ve been creeping in more frequently than ever before, especially now that there’s talk about a new director position opening up soon. Is this normal? Am I the only one who feels like this deep down inside their career journey? What can I do to finally silence these voices and truly believe in my place here?