Category: Health

You Don’t Have to Fake It: Spotting Imposter Syndrome and Shaking It Off

Guest author, Chloe Pearson, encourages us to step into our freedom and power.

You’ve probably had that moment. You’re surrounded by smart people. Everyone’s talking like they’ve got it all figured out. A small voice in your head whispers, “You shouldn’t be here.” That’s imposter syndrome talking. It doesn’t care how many degrees you’ve earned. It doesn’t care what your résumé says. It doesn’t care how many nights you’ve pulled off the impossible. It sits quietly in the background, chipping away at your confidence, until doubt becomes your default setting. And if you’re not careful, it makes you second-guess the very things you’ve worked the hardest for. But it doesn’t have to be permanent.

When Doubt Becomes Default

Imposter syndrome usually doesn’t shout. It creeps in slowly, almost politely, but once it settles, it starts dictating how you see yourself. You find yourself questioning whether your achievements were due to luck instead of skill. You might also worry that someone’s going to call you out as a fraud. These thoughts aren’t rare, either. Research shows that over 70 percent of people will experience this at some point, and it doesn’t discriminate. People experiencing persistent self-doubt feel inadequate. They report it haunts them even after promotions. It also affects them after big wins. And the cruel irony is, it tends to hit high achievers the hardest.

Get Schooled, Get Stronger

Confidence doesn’t just appear one morning. Sometimes, you’ve got to build it brick by brick, skill by skill. Going back to school can be a direct way to rebuild trust in your abilities. This is especially true when you’ve felt like you’ve hit a ceiling. Whether it’s a single course or a full degree, education lets you get more out of yourself. It sends a strong message to your inner imposter. A business management degree, for instance, can deepen your confidence in leadership, operations, and project management. It also makes you more marketable. And if flexibility matters, you can earn an online degree at your own pace. You can also study wherever you feel most like yourself.

Perfectionism Is a Liar

If you’re a perfectionist, imposter syndrome can have you in a chokehold. It convinces you that unless something is flawless, it doesn’t count. That mindset turns every tiny mistake into a catastrophe and every success into an accident. It’s not ambition, it’s self-sabotage in disguise. People with overly high expectations for themselves often burn out before they give themselves permission to feel proud. They over-prepare, over-apologize, and overcompensate until exhaustion becomes a badge of honor. If you don’t learn to let go of the impossible standard, you will struggle with imposter syndrome. It will stick around like it pays rent.

You’re Not Them, You’re You

Scrolling through social media can feel like walking into a hall of mirrors. Listening to a colleague list their wins can feel the same. Comparison is a dangerous game because you’re playing with made-up rules. Everyone’s timeline is different, yet imposter syndrome convinces you you’re falling behind. What you don’t see are the insecurities and detours other people hide just as well as you do. Learning to stop comparing yourself to others is one of the hardest habits to break. Yet, it’s also one of the most important. Once you do, you’ll start to notice your own growth—without the background noise.

Talk Back to the Voice

That inner critic? It’s not all-knowing. Sometimes it’s just a collection of old fears in a new outfit. Reframing those negative thoughts doesn’t mean pretending you’re the best at everything—it means giving yourself permission to be good enough. Instead of thinking, “I have no idea what I’m doing,” try, “I’m learning something new every day.” You can interrupt the loop by replacing it with positive affirmations, even if they feel clunky at first. Eventually, your brain catches on that maybe, just maybe, you’re not faking anything at all.

Change the Way You Think About Failing

There’s freedom in not needing to be the expert all the time. People who develop a growth mindset know that mistakes aren’t dead ends, they’re detours. Once you allow yourself to learn through failure, you begin to remove shame from the process. Suddenly, it’s not about proving yourself anymore, it’s about improving. That’s a big shift. And it’s often the very thing that untangles you from the trap of imposter syndrome.

Let People In

This part’s uncomfortable, especially if you’re used to pretending everything’s fine. But pretending gets lonely, fast. Sharing your feelings with mentors, peers, or therapists can be beneficial. The act of naming the fear often robs it of its power. Community doesn’t solve imposter syndrome entirely, but it keeps you grounded in truth. You’re not alone, and you never were. Let someone remind you of that when you forget.

There’s no certificate or speech that makes imposter syndrome disappear forever. It lingers because it’s tied to how we’ve been taught to measure worth—by output, by applause, by comparison. But that’s never been the full story. Your presence, your work, your wins, they’re all yours, whether or not your brain wants to admit it. The only way out is through, with practice, patience, and enough reminders that you’re not just pretending. You’re participating.

Dive into the whimsical world of Foolish Times where adventure, humor, and the mysteries of the universe collide. Explore captivating stories and insights that challenge the ordinary and ignite your imagination!

Is Your Anxiety Affecting Your Child? Clues to Look For and Practical Steps Forward

Photo by Freepik

Guest Author Chloe Pearson

As a parent, you naturally want the best for your child. Nonetheless, sometimes your own anxiety can inadvertently affect their well-being. You need to understand how your stress impacts your family. Learn ways to manage it. This can create a healthier environment for everyone involved.

Understanding Anxiety’s Impact on Family Dynamics

To effectively support your child’s well-being, it’s crucial to educate yourself about anxiety and its effects on family life. Recognizing that anxiety is not only a personal struggle. It is also a familial one. This understanding can help you find out how your own stress does influence your child. By managing your own anxiety, you give a positive example for your child. You show that anxiety is a normal part of life. It is something that can be managed. This proactive approach not only aids in reducing your child’s anxiety but also fosters a healthier family environment overall.

Your Anxiety and Your Child’s Well-being

Understanding how your anxiety affects your child is crucial for their emotional and behavioral health. Research indicates that parental anxiety can significantly increase the risk of children developing emotional and behavioral issues. Interestingly, while parental anxiety is linked to children’s internalizing problems, it does not necessarily correlate with externalizing behaviors. Your anxiety does not directly cause your child to act out. Yet, it can deeply affect their emotions. It can still deeply impact their emotional state. By acknowledging this connection, you can take proactive steps to manage your anxiety.

Create Stability Through Consistent Routines

Establishing consistent routines is crucial in providing children with a sense of security and predictability. By setting specific times for daily activities, you help your child feel more secure and manage their expectations effectively. This approach not only fosters a sense of organization and stability. It also aids in developing self-discipline. Children learn to handle their responsibilities independently. Moreover, adding transition periods between activities can ease the shift from one task to another. For instance, a calming reading session before bedtime makes the routine smoother.

Identifying Common signs

Recognizing anxiety in both yourself and your child is crucial for fostering a supportive environment. Look for signs such as excessive worry, irritability, or changes in sleep patterns in both you and your child. By acknowledging these symptoms, you can take proactive steps to manage anxiety. Practice relaxation techniques together, like deep breathing exercises. This shared approach not only helps in reducing anxiety. It also strengthens the bond between you and your child. This creates a more reassuring atmosphere at home.

Boost Your Career Prospects to Alleviate Job-Induced Anxiety

Your job might be causing you stress and anxiety. If it is, consider advancing your career to improve your mental health. Pursuing further education can open doors to better opportunities, offering not only financial benefits but also improved work-life balance. For example, if you work in nursing and want better working conditions, shifts, and pay, explore nurse practitioner online programs. These programs can position you for a more hands-on approach. You can also see improved pay and hours. Regardless of your career track, online degree programs make it easier to handle parenting and work duties more easily.

Seek Out Calming Family Activities

Engaging in calming family activities can foster stronger connections and give everyone a mental break from daily stressors. Try family yoga, weekend nature walks, or cooking together. These activities can create shared moments of relaxation. They allow both parents and children to unwind in each other’s company. Simple routines like reading bedtime stories can give security. Playing music and having a weekly game night foster togetherness. These activities not only help children feel grounded and supported. They also allow parents to reconnect and shift their focus away from anxious thoughts. This reinforces positive family bonds and enhances emotional resilience for everyone involved.

When It’s Time for Professional Help

Recognizing when to seek professional help is crucial. It is essential for managing how parental anxiety affects a child’s well-being. If a parent notices that their anxiety consistently interferes with family routines, it creates persistent stress in the household. This stress also affects their child’s emotional or behavioral health. At this point, it is time to consult a mental health professional. Therapy or counseling can offer both parents and children the tools they need to cope more effectively. A therapist can help parents explore the root of their anxiety. They can learn strategies to prevent it from affecting their child. The therapist also provides a safe space for children to express any concerns they are internalizing.


Identify and handle your own anxiety. This can significantly improve your child’s emotional health. It also helps create a more harmonious family life. Through education, routine, and proactive management, you can foster a supportive environment where you and your child can thrive.


Dive into the whimsical world of Foolish Times where adventure, humor, and the mysteries of the universe collide. Explore captivating stories and insights that challenge the ordinary and ignite your imagination!

Utilize These Strategies To Banish Stress

Guest author, Chloe Pearson.

In today’s dynamic and fast-paced world, stress is an omnipresent aspect of our daily lives. But there is hope amidst the chaos: this guide, courtesy of Foolish Times, stands as your lighthouse in turbulent waters, illuminating the path with practical and effective strategies to pinpoint and master the stressors you encounter. With each page, you are invited to embark on an enlightening journey, one that leads towards achieving a harmonious balance and a state of tranquil calm. Here, you’ll not only learn to cope with stress but also transform it into a stepping stone for personal growth and inner peace.

Reflective Insights

Embracing self-reflection is key in managing stress. Regularly set aside time to contemplate moments of tension and overwhelm. This introspection aids in identifying stress triggers and patterns in your life, paving the way for a deeper understanding of your personal stress responses and how to mitigate them.

Embracing Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a powerful ally in combating stress. Incorporating practices like deep breathing and meditation into your daily life cultivates a sense of inner peace. Regular mindfulness exercises train your mind to remain calm and centered even amidst life’s chaos, providing a solid foundation for managing stress effectively.

Career Reevaluation

Navigating a stressful career can have profound effects on your overall well-being. If you’re frequently grappling with work-induced stress, it might be time to ponder a career shift. In today’s world, rich with modern advancements, a plethora of online education and training avenues are at your fingertips. These resources can guide you to explore new professional avenues more in tune with your aspirations and stress management capabilities, such as a Doctor of Education degree that allows you to help others. Learn how to simplify your process with this array of digital tools, making the journey towards a career transition less daunting and more aligned with your personal growth and professional satisfaction.

Support Networks

Never underestimate the power of a strong support network. Sharing your concerns and stressors with trusted individuals can be incredibly therapeutic. Engaging in open, honest dialogues with friends, family, or professionals offers fresh perspectives and coping strategies, enhancing your ability to manage stress more effectively.

Setting Boundaries

Establishing and maintaining clear boundaries is essential in stress management. Identifying areas in your personal and professional life that require firmer boundaries can significantly reduce stress levels. A healthy balance between work and personal life, along with respecting your own personal space, is crucial for mental well-being.

Physical Wellness

Participating in physical activities is a highly effective way to combat stress. Whether it’s a brisk walk, a calming yoga session, or an energetic workout at the gym, these activities play a crucial role in easing physical strain and fostering mental tranquility. Consistent physical exercise is a vital element of a well-rounded stress management strategy, providing not only instant stress relief but also delivering enduring advantages for your overall health. Moreover, this regular engagement in physical activities enhances your body’s ability to handle stress more efficiently, leading to a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.Adaptability and Acceptance

Mastering the art of adaptation and acceptance is crucial in the effective management of stress. It’s important to actively reduce or completely avoid situations that consistently trigger stress. In scenarios where control eludes you, embracing acceptance becomes a key strategy. This mindset not only assists in preserving mental equilibrium but also fosters resilience, enabling you to navigate through challenging circumstances with greater ease. Furthermore, this approach cultivates a mindset that transforms obstacles into opportunities for personal growth and emotional strength.

The journey to mastering life’s stressors is not a quick fix but a continuous process of self-discovery and adjustment. By embracing strategies such as self-reflection, mindfulness, career reevaluation, seeking support, setting boundaries, engaging in physical activities, and practicing adaptability and acceptance, you equip yourself with the tools necessary for navigating through stress. Remember, your ability to recognize and tackle stress is a testament to your strength and resilience, leading you towards a more fulfilling and balanced life.

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The Time My Dog Almost Caused a Divorce

We had each lost our sense of self. We each need that autonomy to grow as individuals.

Guest Author Chloe Pearson

I didn’t see it then, but the day I struggled to get off the couch because my dog was sitting on me was the start of my COVID woes, as we call them now. It’s not like she was really holding me down. She’s all of ten pounds. It was that I had let myself go. My back hurts. I was 15 pounds heavier than I’d ever been. My diet was a wreck. I was depressed.

Anyway, I realize now that that was when the irritability began. It was at that moment that I started snapping at my husband for everything, and when we stopped communicating. I wanted to share my story with the Foolish Times blog because I think that we all need to learn to recognize those small moments that change everything.

Let me back up. Before COVID, my husband and I spent every weekend doing something active with our kids. Once they went to bed, we would snuggle, watch movies, and even play the occasional game of Scrabble. Then, out of the blue, everybody was home. All the time. And nobody ever left. So, naturally, we got lazy. I got lazy. While I know that there’s nothing wrong with having the occasional “do nothing” day, I quit running, quit swimming, I quit watching what I ate, and started shoving everything in my face all day long – that was a mistake.

On this day, the kids were playing in the backyard, and I heard them start yelling at each other (red flag number one). My husband and I were on the couch, and I was already annoyed because he was chewing really loud. So I went to get up, and it wasn’t easy. I got mad that he did not immediately jump up to go check on the kids, and I snapped at him by saying, “Do I have to do everything in this house!?” It was the first time I yelled at him, but it wasn’t the last.

Fast-forward. It’s late 2020, he and I had been arguing every day for the last six months, so I called my attorney. She could not see me for nearly four weeks because she was busy. Apparently, we were not the only ones having marital problems. I had also gained more weight, couldn’t get a haircut, and my liquor cabinet was starting to run dry. Looking back, I’m glad that she could not make the appointment because I had another moment that changed my outlook. My youngest asked me why I hated daddy and why I always looked so tired, even though I was sleeping well past breakfast.

I had to make a change, and I started by separating my and my husband’s workspaces so that I could at least have some time during the day when we were not staring at each other. I turned our spare bedroom into my office, and I made sure it was organized and that I put my desk next to the window. That helped. Being on the other side of the house all day felt a little more normal than sharing the sitting room during business hours.

I even started thinking again about starting my own business and what that might look like. I started by brainstorming some ideas in the quiet of my new home office space. Then, I ran a few of them by my husband before landing on one that I wanted to pursue.

Next, I started working out again. I bought leggings – not the cheap “buttery soft” leggings half the women in my neighborhood sell; I needed something more durable that was also comfortable. I also got some new sports bras and a pair of Saucony running shoes (these, for anyone interested).

Our home is in an area with a good walk score, so I started slowly by walking past the closed shops and restaurants. As I gained back my strength and stamina, my walks turned into jogs and then runs. By this time, I could report what businesses were letting people back in and where we might be able to dine outside as a family.

While things were still tense for the next three or so months, I slowly began to regain my energy, and I apologized to my husband for the last year. But, we knew that we needed more than just an apology from me to put things right. He began working on himself as well, so he quit drinking, and all four of us began spending time together again.

As the world began to reopen, he got permission from his employer to go back into the office, and schools finally started taking students back. I think this was huge for the kids because they no longer had to rely on just me and my husband for socialization. After a couple of months, they were more confident and healthier, and were following directions better than ever.

Today, I have lost most of my weight, which has helped me feel better about myself. I’m also meditating every day. My husband quit drinking (and quit eating in the living room!). We have been going to therapy for three months and realize that we love each other very much. Our problem was that we just did not know how to intertwine every moment of our lives together. We had each lost our sense of self. We each need that autonomy to grow as individuals.

While life is still not back to “normal,” I still have my private office, and the kids are not allowed in there. I’m still exercising. And, most importantly, I’ve learned to invest in myself so that I can be a better wife and mom.