Perfectly Imperfect – Facing Imposter Syndrome

Sometimes…

Sometimes I don’t even tell people I’m a Beachbody Coach because I don’t feel like I look like a Beachbody Coach “should” look. But, really, it’s okay to help others when I’m not perfect.

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of ‘Imposter Syndrome’, but it’s something I struggle with constantly. Impostor syndrome is marked by the inability to internalize one’s accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud”. Any actual proof of success is dismissed by attributing it to luck or as a result of somehow having fooled others. When these feelings creep in, my go-to defense is to focus a bit more on personal development because I know it is actually just self-doubt showing up.

If you’ve ever avoided the gym because you felt like you were so much more out of shape than EVERYBODY else there, you understand. If you’re a coach who has ever had someone look at you a little funny when you say you’re a coach, you understand. But the reality is that we are all different and we have different challenges.

We’re not all at the same place in our journey and our end goals may not even be the same. I can’t even compare my past fitness levels to my current fitness levels. My body (and mind) are not the same now as before I became a Mom. My body isn’t the same as it was before I became a Beachbody coach and as I work through different programs and times of my life, my level of fitness is ever-changing. And that’s okay.

I’m here just like you, working on myself. I’ve made progress and I’m happy to share lessons I’ve learned along the way. Your Beachbody experience, your fitness experience, your LIFE experience will not be the same as mine. Much of what works for me in the programs will work for you…maybe some of it will work better, maybe some won’t work as well. That doesn’t mean I worked harder or you were less dedicated, we’re just at different places on our journey.  Owning that your journey and the lessons you’re learning are valuable to you and can be helpful to others. (at least, this is what I experience)

I’ve heard many times that people are attracted to those that they can relate to. We feel less “judged” and more open to sharing when the people we work with don’t attempt to show up as perfect. If I come back from a business trip or a vacation with family and I strayed from my workouts and/or eating plan, I get back on track but you’ve seen me blog here about the fact that yes, I had a great vacation and, by the way, gained a pound or two that I’d lost after doing Hammer & Chisel. It’s important to be able to acknowledge it and then get back to doing the workouts and getting back into the groove.

The bottom line is that there are all kinds of ways to improve, looking good is one of them. Feeling great is another. Focus on your journey and on sharing the lessons you’ve learned.

I am enough. You are enough, too. Let’s do this!