HELLO FRIENDS!

Happy International Women’s Day! March is also Women’s History Month, so there are LOTS to celebrate. I wanted to take this special day/month as an opportunity to focus on a few topics that really speak to me as a woman.

• Strength
• Perfectionism
• Imposter Syndrome

For me, one of my biggest strengths in my womanhood is my support system. Of course, I have heard, and experienced, some not so “girl power” moments in my life and career, but for the most part, my ladies got my back. They lift me up when I need them, they cheer me on when I need it, and they make me laugh ALL THE TIME!

I truly think that is one of our biggest strengths as women when you find the right crew, is the unshakable bond, nurturing spirit, and the support we have for one another.

One of my “areas of opportunity” is perfectionism. In speaking to people over the years about it I find, anecdotally, that it appears a lot of women struggle with this issue. I can only speak from my own work on it. For me, I think it is a mix of my type-A personality, the fact I am a Virgo and I am a people pleaser. I like to achieve; I am extremely hard on myself and have a fear of letting people down. This issue has turned my great work ethic into being a workaholic, not a good shift. When you feel like things need to be “perfect” (a completely unattainable goal as NOTHING IS PERFECT) you can become fixated on that which doesn’t bode well for time management! When you pride yourself on organization and managing your time, let’s just say, being a perfectionist isn’t fun!

I like to say I am a “recovering perfectionist” not cured, but aware and doing my best to make a change. As I say often, “I am doing my best and that is enough.”

Although Imposter Syndrome is not a new term, I have been hearing it a lot more often these days, and I gotta say, I FEEL THIS. Big time! What about you? As a Coach, Life Enthusiast, and all-around supporter of people, this is something that I am consistently working with other people for their own well being yet I struggle with it. It makes me feel like a bit of a fraud. For no reason. I have 25 years of great experience and education mixed with a creative mindset. I am good at what I do. (I am cringing writing this, WHY?!) Yet, I too feel the dreaded Imposter Syndrome.

I have been talking about this with my community of women and I am not alone. So many strong, intelligent, and talented women feel this way. It is easy to say, STOP IT! You are an accomplished being who has earned and deserved everything you do. But it is easier to say than to do. Why is that? It is something that I am definitely aware of and working on because ENOUGH. I work so hard. I have an #AlwaysLearning mindset so that I can stay current. I am passionate about what I do. I have a lot to offer, other people see it, why can’t I?

This is my ask for the Imposter Syndrome. Let’s call each other out if we are doing it and raise each other up so we can overcome it. We got this!

I want to say that I don’t believe any of these issues are “gender specific” and I hesitate to make them appear that way. I am just speaking from my own experience as a woman and talking to other women. I think, again anecdotally, I see a lot of my women community struggling with the same issues.

If you don’t follow me already on social, now is the time! I am going to take the month of March to explore some of these issues a bit deeper, from posts to quotes to some helpful infographics, you don’t want to miss out!

Let’s carry on this month of “celebrating women” into our daily lives to look out and support one another always: