Wise Wednesdays

  I didn’t attend my PhD graduation. I didn’t feel it was that big a deal. Now I know that PhDs can exacerbate imposter syndrome and take a serious toll on self-esteem. I can’t help but wonder if that’s why I passed up the opportunity to celebrate mine… Imposter syndrome affects 70% of us at one time or another and is particularly common among high achievers and women. 3 signs to look out for indicating that you may have imposter syndrome are: ✋ You regularly feel that you’re not good enough. ✋ You like approval but can’t take a compliment. ✋ You’re speechless when asked to talk about your achievements or strengths. So today, let's pause and choose to see imposter syndrome for what it truly is: a cluster of false beliefs. If you experience these regularly, take a deep breath and know that it’s not you. It’s your conditioning! In my video, I talk about 3 strategies you can try to break the pattern and overcome imposter syndrome. Have a great week, Amina Subscribe to my Wise Wednesd...

You don’t need permission to do what you’re here to do. YOU are responsible for your choices and their consequences. That’s your privilege as an adult human being.   Stop waiting for permission, validation or encouragement to do what you’re here to do (or to stop doing what isn’t yours to do anymore). Artists don’t wait for permission. Why should you?  

Power is neither good nor bad. But most people have a contentious relationship with it. This is one insight that people surfaced at the RSA deep dive on power last week. Some said they were comfortable with power; others that they were more comfortable with vulnerability. And some that they were a bridge between the two. Often it depends on the context and what triggers you to collapse and abdicate your power; or to contract and abuse it. Each with their consequences… [Two poles] You may be so powerful that you can make anything happen and get your way all the time but notice that you’re disconnected from a deeper sense of purpose, wellbeing or even intimacy in your relationships. Or you may have disowned your power so much that you’re at the mercy of everything and everyone – you’ve all but forgotten how to slow down and say NO. To paraphrase Shakespeare: Power is neither good nor bad, only thinking makes it so. [We all have power, whether we use it or not. ] You might call power “ene...

I’ve had a couple of conversations recently with people who are so burned out that they can’t make decisions anymore. They don’t know what they want, who they are or what they’re here to do.   I know this place.   It requires gentleness, patience and a lot of love. It’s the source of deep wisdom and gifts if treated well.   The culture tells us that healing is a thing we do as a separate activity to ordinary work and life. Maybe you take some time out and go to a doctor or healer (or retreat or sabbatical) to heal your wounds/burnout, so you can get back to being productive…   But here’s the thing:   Healing is something that needs to be happening all the time.     Tending to your psychological wounds is a daily practice like brushing your teeth or ironing your shirt.   Why?   Because we’re always sustaining psychological wounds. It's part of the natural wear and tear of life.    If you’re out there in the world, you’ll be getting a...