I'm afraid I don't belong here (the Imposter Phenomenon).

We all know this feeling: you come to a new place — a university, a lab, a team — and it seems like everyone around you is smarter, more confident, and knows exactly what they're doing. And you? You feel like you've taken someone else's place.

 This time, we're talking about the imposter phenomenon — the fear of not being smart enough, not deserving, or not "fitting in" with a community. This isn't modesty or a false self-assessment. It's a normal psychological reaction to the high demands of a competitive environment and internal doubts.

 Together with Svetlana Sidorenkova, a leading counseling psychologist at the HSE University Center for Psychological Counseling, we've gathered simple guidelines to help you feel more confident and remind yourself: you belong here.

• Understand where the doubts come from. The fear of being unworthy is often not linked to actual incompetence, but to personal traits (low self-esteem, refusal to accept your own success) or to the environment (high competitiveness, rigid demands).
• Catch the thought.The moment you think "I don't belong here" or "others are smarter" — simply note that thought.Name it: "Ah, here comes my inner imposter."Recognizing it already strips away some of its power.
• Remember why you are here.Focus on your genuine interests and goals.What brought you to this particular place? What do you want to learn here?Research shows that following your own interests leads to lasting success and a sense of well-being.
• Comparing yourself to others? Show empathy. Try to imagine that the person you consider perfect might also have doubts.The fear of "being the dumbest" is often shared not only by you but also by those you see as highly competent.Talk to them - they might recognize themselves in your words.
• Instead of self-criticism, practice proactivity. Instead of thinking "I'm not good enough," ask yourself: "What can I do right now to get closer to my goal?."An orientation toward finding new ways to act helps shift your focus from negative thoughts to achieving results.
• Seek support.Reach out to friends, family, mentors, or colleagues you trust.Participating in shared projects and activities creates a sense of connectionand helps you see your own contribution to a common cause.You don't have to manage everything alone.
• Acknowledge your own competence.Try to imagine your story as a short film script from a third-person perspective.What do you see? Whatyou made?efforts haveWhat contributions haveyougiven?From the outside, we often see things we fail to notice in ourselves.
• Be gentler with your imperfections.The biographies of successful people include both ups and downs. Mistakes are not proof of your "unworthiness" they are part of the journey.Read the story of someone you admire - and you'll see that no one is perfect.And you're already doing great just by looking for a way to cope with your anxiety.