There's an Imposter in the Room

Okay… confession time—sometimes I feel like there’s an imposter in the room. And yep, that imposter? It’s me. You know the voice inside your head telling you that you don’t belong, that you’re not good enough, or that what you have to say won’t matter. I’ve dealt with this voice more times than I’d like to admit. It's made it hard for me to put myself out there, and to believe in my own voice.

The fear of being judged, or worse, made fun of, has kept me from posting stories, videos, or even just sharing my thoughts.

In case you haven’t met this uninvited guest yet, imposter syndrome is that sinking doubt that creeps in and makes you question whether you’re truly qualified to do something or share something, even when you are. It convinces you that people will see right through you, even if you're genuinely passionate about your message. And in this digital age, where every post can be critiqued and every word scrutinized, imposter syndrome can hit harder than ever.

It reminds me of that Dixie Chicks (ahem… excuse me they are now “The Chicks”) song "Hello Mr. Heartache." Gosh.. I really like that song!... Anyway, there’s this line where the singer says, "I should have known you'd come back." Honestly, imposter syndrome is just like that—it creeps back in right when you think you’ve got it all figured out. But just like in the song, where you accept that heartache will pop in every now and then, it doesn’t mean you have to let it stick around forever.

For me, a real turning point was something a mentor wrote to me. They gave me the blunt truth: “If you can’t take some ridicule from peoples whack opinions, you may not want to do something like starting a business or putting yourself out there because it comes with the territory. All in all, you are only living for the opinion of one.” Ouch—I felt that in my heart! But…it was what I needed to hear.

When I read that, something shifted in me. I realized I’d been letting fear and the potential for judgment silence me. But here's the thing—I now understand that my stories matter because someone out there needs to hear them. There’s someone scrolling through their feed right now, who might benefit from what I have to say. And if I let fear win, that person may never hear the message they need.

The funny thing is, I’ve never had a problem singing in front of people or talking about things I know. But when it comes to social media? It’s a whole different ball game. There’s this weird pressure, like everyone’s waiting to pounce. And let’s face it—people are way braver behind a screen than they’d ever be in person.

Social media tends to mess with your head, making you feel like you have to be perfect. But here’s what I’ve learned: the best way to deal with imposter syndrome is to just be you. I remind myself why I’m doing this in the first place. I listen to podcasts, read articles, and follow creators who inspire me. Little by little, my confidence grows. Yeah, that imposter voice still shows up, but now I just choose to keep moving forward anyway.

Kind of like in that song where you know heartache is bound to show up from time to time—imposter syndrome will too. But the difference is, you don’t have to let it hang around. For me, that means staying true to myself and showing up, even when doubt taps me on the shoulder.

So if you’ve ever felt like an imposter, trust me—you’re not alone. Keep reminding yourself why your story matters, and even when that little voice creeps in, just keep showing up. Your experiences and lessons are worth talking about so get out there and do your thing!

Here’s to living your own unscripted adventure. Ok...I'm going to go listen to The Chicks now!

Until next time,

Live Free, Stay Unscripted!