Scholars studying Imposter Syndrome in the United States for decades identified that people from marginalized communities experience self-doubt, perfectionism, and feelings of fraudulence when they break through a structural barrier. The feelings that a person does not belong or that they will be outed as an imposter increase when that person identifies with multiple marginalized …
When we learn that we cultivate our best lives from our messy humanity, we give ourselves permission to drop the self-judgment. I’ve been on an intense journey over the last few months that felt like I was shedding a part of my identity that had been with me for decades. At times, the process was …
It’s official. I’m a fire walker. A friend invited me to join her at a fire walk this weekend. I said yes because one of my new personal commitments is to lean into freedom, courage, and play without defaulting to my brain’s habit of analyzing each decision from multiple theoretical perspectives before making a decision. …
Are we women before our time or women just in time? My friend’s mom passed away last week after living a long, full life. My friend’s mom was measured and fun. Smart and compassionate. Conscientious and adventurous. A Chicagoan in every way. She left an enduring legacy. Several times during the wake and funeral, I …
We hear so often how important it is to “follow-through” and to keep our word. Society tells us that we’re locked in after we decide and that changing our minds means that we’re unreliable or disloyal. I don’t believe that line of reasoning because the concept is not that simple. All humans live in some …
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes without the words – and never stops at all.” – Emily Dickinson The concept of hope connects to optimism and anticipation, right? It’s about playfulness, desire, and possibility. As a child, I was trained to pray regularly as a …
I remember when Geraldine Ferraro ran for VP of the United States on a ticket with Walter Mondale. While I was young, far too young to care about politics let alone understand political party politics, I was raised in the most powerful Republican stronghold in IL. Dennis Hastert, “The Coach,” and now disgraced and imprisoned …
I’ve got a new philosophy on life and coaching and it has made all the difference on a cellular level. I stopped trying to smash the patriarchy because it lives inside of me. When I want to obliterate the patriarchy from the face of the Earth and, trust me, some days that’s exactly what I …
This week I coached several people on the theme of expecting the “freak-out” when they were about to jump into a “high stakes” life event. One client was preparing to take her GRE. Someone else was two days away from a long-awaited medical procedure. Another person contemplated her ability to handle the responsibilities of a …
You’re not alone. I can’t count how many smart, accomplished women like you (and me) race to the bathroom between tasks. We work and work. We wait and wait. We ignore and ignore. And then we sprint casually to the bathroom hoping that no one will notice our walk-run. Here’s what’s going on with all …
