As conscious-living women, there is often this expectation and pressure we put on ourselves to always be happy, always see the positive, always see the glass half full. But let’s be honest: sometimes things SUCK, and life is going to throw curve ball our way. Yeah, we learn. Yeah, we grow. But that doesn’t make it EASY.
And then there’s social media… everyone’s lives on Facebook and Instagram look SO DAMN PERFECT that you can often think yours isn’t living up to it’s potential. That’s bullshit. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be, and you’re totally awesome – seriously. The images people craft on social media are often that… CRAFTED… and if you’re just being your regular, every day, awesome self, it can be tough to compete with an illusion.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson
So how does impostor syndrome enter the mix…?
– When you’re doing your best to live your life mindfully, with an open heart, but some jackass cuts you off in traffic and you flip him the bird… you may wonder “Am I really a spiritual person?”
>>> Yes – you are. You’re human, and sometimes interacting with other humans can be frustrating.
– When every dish you cook looks more like a Pinterest fail than a Pinterest post… you may wonder “Am I a sucky mom?”
>>> No – you’re not. Perhaps you’re more of a domestic goddess at heart than in this reality, but one ugly iced cake does not a shitty mom make. So go easy on yourself – motherhood is tough enough.
– When your high school reunion is coming up and you start pressuring yourself to lose weight… you may wonder “Am I good enough?”
>>> EFF YEAH YOU ARE. You are not your dress size now, nor were you your dress size then. Your value is measured by the size of you heart – not your jeans.
– When your family pictures look a bit less polished than the Jones family’s down the block… you may wonder “Are they better than us?”
>>> Heck no! And nor are you better than them. We’re all the same… we’re all awesome… and if you’re going to judge a family’s value or closeness or how well put together they are by a photo (which has been professionally taken and touched up), sweetie baby, you’ve got bigger concerns.
None of it matters. You aren’t an impostor – you’re human. You’re going to slip up. You’re going to wish life was different/better/richer/etc. It doesn’t make you a bad person… Sometimes, you just slip. So do you hop down the slide of the shame spiral and beat yourself up and make yourself feel even shittier and like MORE of an impostor? No. You acknowledge it. You dust yourself off. You try to do better next time. (Yes, even if that same jackass cuts you off at the next light.) Stop pressuring yourself to be something you’re not. Stop thinking you’re “less than” because you don’t live up to some fake ideal the people on your friend’s list are posting about.
So stop competing with illusion, pull off the mask and be your incredible, authentic Self – warts and all. Love her. Laugh with her (or at her, that’s good too), and just BE. Because you’re awesome… you just need to remind yourself from time to time. 
With love,
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