The Day I Got Holy Airballed and Almost Believed It
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” And boy… did I learn that the hard way the other day.
Let me set the scene: I was out and about when I ran into my old high school English teacher. Yep—that one. The one who made me feel like I was either destined to write the next Great American Novel or waste my "potential" in some tragic way.
So we do the whole polite catch-up thing, and when I tell her I’m in real estate, she pauses. Tilted head. Slight squint. And says—and I quote:
“Oh… oh! Well, I just thought with your brilliance you would have…”
[Insert full body cringe here.]
I didn’t even hear the rest because my brain went straight to DEFCON 1.
Suddenly, I wasn’t a grown-ass woman with a beefy resume of business success and nonprofit work. I was 16 again. Awkward. Uncertain. Desperate to be seen as enough.
Cue the Inner Monologue Meltdown
In my head, I was screaming:
“You judgy, tactless bitch! What is WRONG with you?”
Outwardly, I smiled politely. But inwardly, the whole scene had completely wrecked my vibe. Not because of what she said. But because of what it activated in me.
And that’s when it hit me:
She didn’t make me feel inferior. I did.
She just poked the bear. That bear being… my own brain.
Your Worst Critic Isn’t Out There—It’s in Here
We love to think the problem is out there: our teachers, our bosses, that passive-aggressive mom at pickup.
But nine times out of ten, it’s not them. It’s that voice in your own head, whispering:
“You should’ve done more.”
“You’re not living up to your potential.”
“They’re all judging you.”
The trick is recognizing that voice when it pipes up—and remembering that you don’t have to believe it.
The Real Lesson
People are going to say things. Some of them will be careless. Some will be well-meaning but sting anyway. Some will just catch you on the wrong day.
But you get to decide what sticks.
So the next time someone triggers your inner teenager, pause. Take a breath. And remind yourself: I’m the one in charge here. Not them. Not even my own brain when it’s being dramatic.
Also, my path? I’ve achieved success my old English teacher can’t even imagine. Turns out you can apply your brilliance to anything you want. —Katie