Tag Archives: writing

The Mentor-Gaining Wisdom

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Growing up, I really underestimated the importance of a mentor. Whether in your professional or private life, a mentor is a valuable but oftentimes underutilized source of success for individuals. This article points out three main ways a mentor makes a difference:

1) Wisdom from Someone Who Has Gone Before You

We all make mistakes, right? What would it look like to have a source of information from someone who has experience with where you are trying to go? People often sleep on this avenue of becoming informed about the road ahead.

When working with a mentor, you save one of the most valuable commodities that you will never get back once it is gone—time. Not only will you save time while working with a mentor, but you will also save money and energy.

It’s like when GPS takes you on a shorter route or saves you time because you avoided a road closure up ahead. As a native Houstonian, I can really relate to this analogy.

2) Guidance for Unfamiliar Territory

When encroaching on a place that you have never been, a mentor is imperative. Doing something you have never experienced before can be scary. Not only is it scary, but it can be a bit intimidating, to say the least.

Throughout history, people used guides to help them in unfamiliar and uncharted areas. They were definitely on the team of people like Christopher Columbus who were sent across the oceans to explore unknown areas. It was dangerous to go and move about without a guide.

A mentor helps their mentee by warning them about things they may be ignorant about.

3) Learning From Another Person’s Experience

This facet of the importance of having a mentor on your Life Board™ is priceless. Like my coach and mentor, Dr. Dharius Daniels, often says, “You can’t be your best self by yourself.”

Joining his program has been one of the most important decisions I have ever made. How so, you may ask?

Well, a mentor like Dr. Daniels has spent thousands of dollars, minutes, and energy learning about various facets of life. With a really good mentor, you basically get the cheat sheet and don’t have to experience what the older folks would call a “bought lesson.” Instead, you get to glean from their experience.

I don’t want to have to bump my head or burn my hand to learn a lesson when there is a more time-saving and better way to achieve my goals.

If you want to know more about designing your Life Board™, reach out to Nekeshia Limuel, LPC, c/o Meraki Counseling Services at 832-779-3039 or email merakicounseling@outlook.com.

Another option is to purchase the guided journal, Life Board: A Guided Journal to Reflect on the People Who Anchor, Affirm, and Align You.

Imposter Syndrome Unfolded in Real Time

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As I prepare to embark upon a new adventure as a vendor at a women’s conference, it has become evident how imposter syndrome creeps up behind you.

The perfectionist type has definitely been my shadow for the last few weeks since I signed up to be a vendor. To be candid, I really just thought about attending the event, The Healing Seat, in July. Never did I imagine being a vendor.

I searched Pinterest and YouTube for suggestions for vendors at fairs and trade shows. I even asked ChatGPT to do a mockup image for my table setup. Many trips back and forth to stores and playing with designs on Canva have become a habit for me as I prepare.

I had to stop myself after setting up my table at home, rearranging items on the table, packing everything up, only to bring it back out again to make sure I had the best setup. Not to mention, I broke a glass item that I got from an antique shop in East Texas that is not readily available.

What this experience has taught me is that I, too, suffer with imposter syndrome. The second-guessing and overpreparing were the symptoms that became prevalent while getting ready. I had to take a step back—literally—after stepping on glass that would not have broken if I hadn’t been ruminating over a polished and perfect table that would invite and attract women to my corner.

I had to speak to myself the same way I speak to my clients:

You’ve got this.

You deserve to be in the room.

You were built for this.

This is your calling.

You are talented.

If you have discovered that nasty monster of imposter syndrome lurking in the background, don’t fight it alone. Reach out to Meraki Counseling today for assistance in building your confidence.