I do relate to this phenomenon as well. In fact I've told counselors in the past that I felt like a fraud--not the same word as you used, but definitely the same idea.
When I was in my twenties and working on a master's degree, I was offered a good professional job with an above-average salary for my field. It was with a company going through a reorganization; a man with a family was laid off and I got his job. I felt guilty and undeserving, and vaguely anxious that the "grownups" running the show didn't really know me. If they did, they wouldn't have such faith in me!
I did very well in that job and earned my keep, but...I always had that niggling feeling that I was a fraud.
I relate to the previous commenter who wonders how her children turned out so well. It makes me realize that I carry this sense of self-doubt as a mother, too. My child is still at home, but I often feel fearful that I'm going to mess up; that I'm not up to the task of parenting her well. That's scary...could it be self-fulfilling prophecy?
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I do relate to this phenomenon as well. In fact I've told counselors in the past that I felt like a fraud--not the same word as you used, but definitely the same idea.
July 18, 2010 - 5:37amWhen I was in my twenties and working on a master's degree, I was offered a good professional job with an above-average salary for my field. It was with a company going through a reorganization; a man with a family was laid off and I got his job. I felt guilty and undeserving, and vaguely anxious that the "grownups" running the show didn't really know me. If they did, they wouldn't have such faith in me!
I did very well in that job and earned my keep, but...I always had that niggling feeling that I was a fraud.
I relate to the previous commenter who wonders how her children turned out so well. It makes me realize that I carry this sense of self-doubt as a mother, too. My child is still at home, but I often feel fearful that I'm going to mess up; that I'm not up to the task of parenting her well. That's scary...could it be self-fulfilling prophecy?
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