People from all walks of life often feel inadequate or unworthy of success, even when they work hard and do well for themselves. This phenomenon, known as “imposter syndrome,” can have a serious impact on a person’s life—but there is hope.

Rosy Thachil, MD, a cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, wrote about her own experience with imposter syndrome in a blog post for Medscape.

Thachil was slow to discuss these feelings at first, she explained, because she didn’t want others to interpret as “a sign of weakness” or a “vulnerability.” She learned, however, that imposter syndrome is much more common than she had ever realized—even among incredibly successful individuals—and that discussing these thoughts could help her move forward and become a stronger person.  

“While systemic and cultural change may take time, on the individual level, we can learn to manage impostor syndrome,” she wrote. “If left unchecked, it can lead to unhealthy degrees of perfectionism, constant self-criticism, holding oneself to unattainable standards, poor boundaries, and a persistent feeling of ‘others always know more than me.’”

Thachil also shared some words of advice for others who may be experiencing similar feelings. For example, she said, it’s important to recognize that your achievements are a direct result of your own hard work. It also helps to remind yourself that, yes, you may still be learning; you aren’t going to know every answer to every question 100% of the time.

“Having a gap in knowledge or skill does not automatically make you a fraud,” she wrote. “It is okay to learn and develop.”

To read the full blog post, click the link below: