Wisdom From Imposter Syndrome

I’m having a bit of imposter syndrome today. 

I teach a 9 AM yoga class on Monday mornings. I’ve had this class for years (I’m talking since before the pandemic, years!) Today’s class felt extra small and I thought it was because of the gray day and all the rain we’ve had. 

Then I discovered there’s a new class on the schedule at 10:30am that’s the exact same format as mine. That class had waaaaay more people than mine! At least it felt like way more, that class had 14 people where as mine had 8. This instructor came from another location who has a lot of followers and that got into my head. 

It messed with my confidence.

“Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the breaks. In order to be free, we must learn to let go.”
- Mandy Manin Morrissey 

I was trying to convince myself that I’m a seasoned teacher and this shouldn’t bother me. 

But it totally did bother me and I want to have bigger classes. I want to have a dedicated following. 

Let’s pause here real quick. I DO have a dedicated following, I have students that show up for my classes every week rain or shine. I even have holiday regulars, that come to my class everytime there’s a Monday holiday. But I’ve never taught a class that was at capacity, my following doesn’t max out the room and that thought was being extra loud today. 

I was stuck in the comparison game and when I do that I start listing all the things I can’t do, all the reasons why something isn’t working in my favor.

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​I can’t teach jumping in the cardio section because of my scoliosis. 

I’m a methodical human, I can’t move fast. 

I’m not energetic enough. I can’t excite the room. 

[big sigh]

While I was having a pity party all those thoughts popped up. 

Yes I was feeling sad, dejected and a failure. My feelings are valid. 

AND I don’t have to stay stuck in those feelings. 

So I pulled up my favorite meditation app, Insight Timer and searched for a short meditation on Confidence. I chose Quick Confidence with Meg James​

As I was lying there listening to the meditation, a thought struck me. 

I get stuck when I’m focused on what I can’t do. 

That’s all I see. That can’t voice is what leads to excuses and excuses have never served me well. 

What if I flipped it? 

What it everytime I notice myself saying I can’t do something, to then ask myself, “OK, well what can you do instead?” 

You know what popped in? 

I teach jumping in my cardio sections all the time! I demo the non jumping version and then tell my students that they can add in a hop or a jump, and they do. I don’t need to jump for them to be able to jump. That’s not what good teaching is all about. A good teacher sets their students up for success, which I do every time I teach. 

So here’s what I’m going to do: everytime I notice myself saying I can’t do something, I will acknowledge the can’t and then ask myself, what can you do? 

I invite you to try this technique too. You won’t see a sudden change over night. Over time, all those small shifts will make a giant impact. 

Journaling Prompt: Where are you saying can’t and what can you do instead? 

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