Im surprised nobody has mentioned that this is a case (or variant) of "Impostor syndrome" (from Wikipedia [1]): "The impostor syndrome, sometimes called impost

Im surprised nobody has mentioned that this is a case (or variant) of "Impostor syndrome" (from Wikipedia [1]): "The impostor syndrome, sometimes called impostor phenomenon or fraud syndrome, is a psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments. Despite external evidence of their competence, those with the syndrome remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the success they have achieved. Proof of success is dismissed as luck, timing, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they are more intelligent and competent than they believe themselves to be." Feeling "as if you don't belong" or that you were falsely placed in a position (by accident, etc.) is a very common feeling among high-achieving students and adults (common, for example, in medical schools and graduate programs). to the OP: you are clearly achieving success in your career (know several languages, challenging yourself to additional), and the fact that you read HN and have a sense of what makes a project great is important. There's been good practical advice elsewhere in this thread, but I feel that it's important to point out that your underlying feelings fall under a broadly typical pattern as well. [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome