Imposter syndrome gets a lot of airtime these days. You’ve probably heard the phrase more times than you can count: “It’s self-doubt. A mindset issue. You need to build confidence.”

And yes, part of that is true. And what if we’ve been looking at it from only one side?

What if imposter syndrome isn’t simply about internal insecurity—it’s also a signal that the external environment isn’t built for you to feel like you belong?

The Classic Narrative Falls Short

Let’s rewind for a moment.

The traditional take on imposter syndrome paints it as a psychological hiccup—something that happens to high-achievers who can’t internalize their own success. They over-prepare, downplay praise, and attribute accomplishments to luck. The common fix? Self-talk. Journaling. “Own your worth.”

And here’s the problem: you can do all of that and still walk into a room and feel like your presence is an exception, not the norm. Not because you’re under qualified— because maybe the room wasn’t designe...

Have you ever walked away from a conversation or a room full of strangers thinking, “Was that too much?”

I recently joined Michal McCracken on the Space and Grace podcast for a conversation that started with a simple question—why is authenticity in communication so important? What unfolded was an honest, heartfelt deep dive into what it really means to find your voice, use it boldly, and still navigate those moments when you feel like you’ve taken up too much space.

Spoiler alert: You’re not too much. You’re not “not enough”. You’re you—and the world needs all of it.

We’re Not Here for Polished Perfection

We live in a world that’s still shaking off the curated Instagram era. The one where perfection was currency and “relatable” was a branding tactic. And what people want now is realness. They want to connect with someone who shows up as themselves—flaws, quirks, awkward silences, and all.

Authenticity isn’t a performance. It’s not something you “achieve” and then move on from. ...

I recently shared an article in our “All The Things” email that explored a surprising idea: our brains can age at a pace that doesn’t always match the rest of us. What stood out wasn’t simply the science—it was the reminder that our cognitive patterns quietly influence how we show up every day. The researchers noted that these subtle shifts in brain-health can shape decision-making, emotional regulation, and even the way we interpret the world around us.

That insight stayed with me. Because if our internal processing changes the way we think, it naturally changes the way we communicate. The gaps, assumptions, or misunderstandings we experience in conversations often start long before words are spoken.

So, using that article as a launch point, with this blog I will take you into a more practical space—how communication actually works in our daily interactions, and a few intentional ways we can strengthen it.

When we communicate well, we shorten the distance between intention and unde...