THE FIRST STEPS IN A NEW DIRECTION

After two decades as a journalist, Psychologies editor-in-chief Sally Saunders decides it’s time to tackle her impostor syndrome and study life coaching

The motivation to change my life and start studying after more than 20 years away from a textbook came from none other than Gabby Bernstein. The queen of manifesting and self-proclaimed ‘spirit junkie’ was performing an inspirational one-woman show in London, and I was lucky enough to be invited. I was mesmerised by the tiny, bird-like New Yorker as she bounced around the stage, radiating energy and dropping f-bombs.

I was a little nervous of the idea of manifesting – it’s really not my vibe – but her interest seems to have moved from her early career approach of ‘What do I want, and how can I get it’, to a more mature and reflective, ‘How can I serve, and what’s stopping me?’ This was the idea that stuck with me.

I couldn’t help feeling – probably like many others in the crowd – that I wasn’t quite living my best life. Don’t get me wrong, I really love my life, but I’m aware that there are still many things making me live a smaller, quieter life than I’d perhaps dreamed of. So, as I walked back to the train station, buzzing, later that night, I couldn’t help reflect on the challenge Bernstein’s words had set me. Well, what was stopping me? And what, exactly, was it stopping me from doing?

I reflected on my job, as editor-in-chief of this magazine. I’ve been doing this for pretty much two years now, and I adore it, but I still don’t feel remotely comfortable in the role. Full disclosure: I have the most shocking imposter syndrome.