Not everyone knows this. But, I am in recovery. I remember the last intervention that saved my life. Here is the back story: August 2018, I took that brave leap from one aspect of social worker to the next. I went from managing a team of professionals who provide mental health mobile crisis response to accepting a full time social work teaching gig at a local university. I felt ready for this new adventure, even with the mixed nervousness and excitement.

The unknown demands of college faculty life was what made me most nervous. I was leaving a very predictable job (as predictable as crisis work can be) to one that required me to learn new skills and work muscles that I never knew existed. I was familiar with teaching already. I started off as part time faculty in 2017 and went from teaching 2 classes  to 5 classes full-time when I accepted the full-time position. Each course was full of new prep, textbooks I had to read, students I had to get to know, and new faculty policies I had to follow. I struggled with time management like never before. It was then that I came to terms that I was truly a chronic procrastinator. I would get anxiety about completing a task that took me out of my comfort zone. So I would wait until the very last minute to complete it. The stress was unnecessary, overwhelming and paralyzing. It meant poor performance. ​

HE INTERVENTION:
​My help came from an educational specialist named Mandy McGrew. I contacted her department at our institution upon the recommendation of another faculty member who knew exactly what it is like to dive headfirst into teaching without real understanding of the demands. Mandy asked me “Have you heard of Parkinson’s Law? In my ignorance, I replied, “Umm, I have  heard of Parkinson’s disease”. She chuckled and shared wisdom that would change my life forever!

Parkinson’s law is the adage that states an activity or work will take as much time to complete as you allow it (paraphrase). For example: ever wonder how you are able to clean your whole house in 45 minutes when you find out that you were having guests coming over. Or how you could finish your case notes within an hour, right when your supervisor needs them. You only gave yourself one hour...and that’s all it took.  Keep in mind. Time is the great equalizer. We all get the same 24hours of a day. You have the power to give each activity the amount of time you want it to have. Like Captain Planet says, "The Power is Yours!" (I'm an 80's Baby).

THE REVELATION:
If you say, I am going to fold clothes this weekend, somehow it takes ALL weekend to get it done. That is Parkinson’s Law. With this law and finally getting fed-up with the highs and lows of procrastinating I came to some serious conclusions. Grading papers effectively would take x amount of hours. So, that is all I  would gave it. I came to the conclusion that class preparation needed a certain amount of time, per class. So that is all it got. I have 2 hours to complete it, and would hold myself accountable (that’s another blog, :) Understand the principle of Parkinson's law was the intervention that I needed to get me on the right track towards REAL change in managing my time personally and professionally... Could you use a little help?​​

Here are 3 ways I personally combat imposter syndrome that seems to show up at the most inopportune times:

1. Be Kind to Yourself: Cut yourself some slack. You are not the only one who has ever felt this way. We all find ourselves minimizing the value we bring sometimes.
2.  Your Steps are Ordered: Promotion comes from the Lord according to the Bible. He's positioned you and equips you. Realizing that God sent you inspires humility and not inadequacy. It inspires God-reliance and Gratitude.  Thank You Lord for sending me.
3. It's Not About You: What if you are where you are for someone else? Your skills, talent and hardwork brought you into this space for not just you. YOU WERE CHOSEN to show others His Glory. You are there to be a solution, an example, an inspiration to someone else.   This particular achievement is definitely not about you. You are great for the people you serve!

 Can you think of any other ways to stop that IMPOSTERing in its tracks?

You hear it constantly....
"You should be getting paid for this!"
​"Why aren't you doing this for a living?"
"When are you going to start that... (fill in the blank)?"

​How do I know you hear it constantly? Well, because I've heard it over and over and over myself. From countless people. I wish I was paid for everytime I actually heard each and everyone of those phrases (a girl could dream🤔). I even recall each response I would give to those questions too. I bet you have some of same rebuttals to their queries. Well, I'm going to be honest with you. I know you should be getting paid for it. I know you really could be doing this for a living.  What I want really want to know is  "What is stopping you? What are you waiting for?"

I know what would stop me. I know exactly what I was waiting for. I was waiting for perfection. The perfect time, the perfect day, the perfect amount of money, the perfect background, the perfect amount of help, the perfect approval, the perfect amount of confidence.