Impostor Syndrome. I bet without even explaining what that is; you know what it is. It has the suspiciously nasty voice of our inner mean girl telling us that we are not worthy of our aspirations. She says lots of untrue things like you aren’t a good mom, or you are a sucky cook, or you are lousy at losing weight so why the heck are you even trying?
Impostor Syndrome Defined
To put it simply, Impostor Syndrome is another form of self-doubt. It’s one of the more malignant forms in my life. I cringe every time the internal chorus starts in with “what makes you so special that . . .” I’m guessing you feel the same way. It makes you doubt everything about what you do, and that leads to you wondering who you even are.
You Are So Much More Than Your Inner Mean Girl Says You Are
I will tell you who you are. You are everything that voice says you are just pretending to be. You are a great mom. Your kids may not look like the latest Gap ad, but they are clothed and probably happier not looking like they stepped out of a catalog.
You don’t suck at cooking. You may not be Julia Child, but who cares? I’m not a Michelin star chef or even a Denny’s short order cook, but I hear more “thank you for dinner” comments than I do sneers about terrible food.
You can lose weight. You can make small changes that add up to significant results. Sometimes just starting by alternating every diet soda with a glass of water or swapping fat-free half & half for the full-fat version is the best place to start. You are smart enough to know that you don’t have to go all out right away. Jumping in the deep end and going all Keto all at once is more likely to derail you than making small, gradual changes. Not following the rigid rules of a diet that takes away everything you like all at once is leading to a crash and burn moment. Choosing not to crash and burn isn’t a bad thing in the weight loss world. Slow and steady wins the race year after year. Fast and furious usually ends as a one-hit wonder.
Give Yourself Grace and Defeat the Impostor Syndrome
When I started this weight loss journey in January, I promised myself to give myself grace. Part of grace is the acceptance that while I’m not always perfect, I’m not a faker either. I am forging my path through all the things it seems I’m not cut out for. You can too. All you need to do is change the channel when your mean girl starts her spiel. Remind yourself that you are the real deal and are living your real life. She is nothing more than a figment of self-doubt. Give yourself grace and be patient with your progress. I know. Easier said than done. It is a practice makes perfect situation, but it is worth your time because as grace and patience come to the top, that mean girl and her imposer insinuations gets drowned out big time. Some days her voice may filter through, but in my experience, it becomes fainter every single time.
Conclusion
You are not an imposter. You are a bright, vibrant, integral part of your life and your family. You can be everything you want to be and more. Don’t listen to that mean girl. Embrace all that you are, and you will exceed every expectation and reach every goal. You go, girl!
