I listened to Episode 964 of a podcast called Something You Should Know and heard Dr. Jill Stoddard talk about her book, Imposter No More: Overcome Self-Doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career. Her perspective was fascinating because the more visible I am in the media and public appearances, the more I’ve noticed how loudly my inner voice questions my right to show up for people that way. I hear my inner voice saying, “Who do you think you are? You should have just stuck to being an office pediatrician. Who’s going to listen to you? Why are you doing this?” It goes on and on and on.
We are all our own worst enemy. We talk ourselves out of reaching for opportunities, pursuing our passions, or contributing to someone or something in a new way. I loved Dr. Stoddard’s insight on imposter syndrome. She views self-doubt as a sign that you are on the right track. She says it means you’re growing and striving for something you care about and that you will always question yourself when you are out of your comfort zone. She also talks about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. How does this apply to you?
How many of you have ever experienced imposter syndrome as parents? You may question whether you are doing or saying the right thing. You may compare yourself to other parents and think you are not spending enough time with your kids. You may be beating yourself up about not providing home-cooked meals and eating out too much. It’s alright to question. It’s part of human nature. Questioning your parenting means that you care about your children and want to ensure you are doing the right things to have them reach their potential. The self-doubt will never go away. Just keep moving forward. Keep growing and learning as a parent. Make adjustments if needed. Continue to strengthen your connection with your children, tap into your support network, and foster open, authentic relationships with your children. If you do that, you are on the right track!
Here is the link to that podcast interview: Dr. Jill Stoddard’s Interview
Dr. Liz