Imposter Syndrome & Feeling Inadequate.

Today I shared a post on instagram about my struggles with feeling inadequate when it comes to teaching.

As I am somebody who does teach full time and a lot of classes, it might be surprising to hear my struggle with self doubt. You might assume that I always feel confident in what I am offering or that I don’t worry about what others think. The truth is - there are days where I wonder;

“Am I a good enough teacher?”

“Do people like what I teach?”

“Are people getting bored of what I do?”

“Am I not as good a teacher as insert another yoga teachers name?”

These thoughts can really rattle my brain in moments when I feel not as confident in my abilities as others. It could be that my class numbers are lower than others, that somebody’s stopped coming to my class or maybe just a feel that nobody enjoyed what I just did.

These thoughts don’t come from a place of ego but more a place of care. I know that might not sound like it makes sense but hear me out.

I love what I do. Teaching yoga & meditation is my biggest passion and I want others to love what I do too! I do what I do because I want others to leave my classes feeling good in themselves, reconnected to their bodies and ignite a passion for their own practice. Sometimes that care means the self doubt ends up being a bit louder.

I’m sure I’m not the only yoga teacher to feel like this. In fact this feeling isn’t just exclusive to yoga teachers. Many people at some point ask themselves that same question “Am I good enough?”

It is not easy to admit that you might be feeling inadequate and it’s even harder to actually deal with. I think that those doubts come from a small part of us that was perhaps once made to feel not enough. Then, later in life, we find moments where external factors solidify that old belief. You might, in those moments, be looking for reassurance or maybe you’re looking for external validation. This isn’t necessarily bad.

However, can we remind ourselves that: no external validation will ever equal our own validation.

So, here is my proposal to you. On those days, if you’re like me, when you do struggle with self doubt, can you pause and ask yourself - “what part of me is feeling this right now?”. Is it your 7 year old self who got shouted at for doing something wrong? Is it the teenage you who perhaps got bullied for how she/he looked. Or is it the part of you that feels they need to prove their worthiness in order to be liked or loved?

Meet that version of you where they are at right now. Place a hand over your heart, close your eyes and repeat

“ I see you. I hear you. You are enough.”

Remember - Your worthiness isn’t something that is achieved, you don’t have to be perfect to be enough and you certainly can make a difference without being perfect.

You are loved, you are worthy, you are always enough.

Lots of love,

Colleen xx