"Imposter? I barely know her!" (I'll see myself out...)

It's hard sometimes (all the damn time) not to feel like an imposter.

I often think that being an adult is just pretending you know what you're doing, and pretending hard enough to convince everyone around you that you've got it all figured out. But aren't we all just stumbling around in the dark trying to find the lightswitch?

I find it challenging to speak from a place of authority, even when I think I know what I'm talking about. A co-worker asked me some questions about nutrition earlier this week and I drew on the knowledge I've been taught (by the bazillion podcast episodes and articles I've pored over) and before I knew it I was pointing him in a direction (hopefully the right one) to healing some eczema that has plagued him for years that I didn't even know he had until we started talking (the miracle cure, in case you're curious, might be Vitamin D).

I'm not "qualified" to answer anyone's questions about anything really, and I try to make sure I always start with a beginner's mindset. I try to state clearly from the outset that I don't have all the answers - I've just been listening to people who claim they do for a while now. I suppose I've absorbed a lot of information in the health and wellness sphere that I've been able to make connections through over time, but the fact that I'm not "qualified" always makes me feel like I'm potentially misleading people.

Fortunately for me, I have friends around who remind me that even though I don't have a degree in Nutritional Science, my perspective is still valid, and potentially a valuable resource to others who haven't learned about the same topics I have. Then I remind myself that just because I didn't major in English or Journalism, that doesn't mean I'll be a rookie writer forever. And on a more hilarious note - it's true I didn't start paying attention to sports other than hockey until a couple years ago, but that doesn't mean I can't kick ass in fantasy sports in my office league (I did win our Football and March Madness competitions this year #notabigdeal).

What really matters is putting the rubber to the road, as it were, and actually doing things, gaining experience, and taking risks. There's no shame in faking it until you make it, as long as you're honest with yourself and others. I think we're all making it up as we go along in a lot of ways. Every parent I've ever talked to has admitted to crossing their fingers and hoping they're doing an okay job, no matter how many books they've read (or written) on parenting.

We're all doing our best, and as long as we have good intentions and integrity in our actions, we're probably doing just fine.

This week has been a wild ride for me with work and my personal life and my health (all is well, fear not!) so I'm taking this lesson from it and being grateful that I have the freedom to learn and do whatever my heart desires these days.

So, too, you should remember the next time you feel like a fraud: we're all just doing the best we can and I promise you that your best is better than you think it is.

What's your favorite thing to learn about? What's the thing you secretly know more about than your friends? What knowledge do you want to share with people? Educate us in the comments!

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