Not Feeling Good Enough

The most common feeling among new contributors.

The Feeling

"I'm not smart enough"
"My code isn't good enough"
"Everyone else is better"
"I don't belong here"

The Reality

The people who started were also beginners.
Everyone felt this way once.
Your feelings are normal.
Your feelings aren't facts.

Evidence Check

Feeling: "My code is terrible"
Evidence: "I've shipped 3 merged PRs"
Reality: "If code was terrible, it wouldn't merge"

Feeling: "Everyone is smarter than me"
Evidence: "I understand core system X"
Reality: "You're smarter than you think"

What Helps

✓ Remember you started somewhere
✓ Look at your first PR vs recent PR
✓ Ask for code review feedback
✓ See others struggling too
✓ Celebrate small wins
✓ Talk to mentors

The Truth

Junior → Intermediate takes 6-12 months
Intermediate → Advanced takes 1-2 years
You're not behind.
You're exactly where you should be.

Imposter syndrome is a sign you're learning. The people who don't doubt themselves don't grow.

Why PRs Get Rejected Imposter Syndrome