Dear Little One...

Lara Marek
Mar 9
4 min read

What I wish I’d understood earlier

Have you ever wished to go back in time and share hard-won wisdom with your younger self?

This ONE advice that would have changed everything for you?

Usually I don’t look back – as I can’t change things from the past.

But, if I could sit across my younger self – the ambitious young women, full of dreams, hopes, visions… yet weighed down by self-doubt and not-good-enough-ness… - I’d take her hands in mine and say…

“The fear of not being enough is not yours to carry.”

I would tell her that the hesitation she feels when stepping forward isn’t a sign of incompetence but rather the result of a world that raises women differently than men.

And that, above all, she has the power to rewire her mind for courage, success, and confidence.

Because self-doubt, not feeling-good-enough-ness and imposter syndrome are not personal traits – they are learned behaviors!

And what can be learned, can also be unlearned. However, the process of unlearning deep ingrained beliefs is not only uncomfortable but also hard work.

❌ But why do so many women get trapped in self-doubt and imposter syndrome?

It’s the silent conditioning that holds women back.

See, from an early age, boys and girls receive very different messages about failure and rejection. Studies show that boys are more encouraged to take risks, while girls are often taught to be careful, polite, and not to make mistakes. When a boy hears “no,” he’s more likely to brush it off and try again.

A girl, however, often internalizes rejection - seeing it as a reflection of her own worth.

And this pattern doesn’t stop in childhood. It follows women into school, into careers, into relationships, and even into motherhood.

Many women struggle with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and a paralyzing fear of not being good enough.

I was no exception.

Time to break free from self-doubt – once and for all!

Looking back, I wish I had known that self-doubt wasn’t an inherent flaw in me - it was learned. And if it was learned, it could be unlearned.

One of my first encounters with breaking free from overthinking happened when I discovered progressive muscle relaxation at around 17. It was the first time I truly understood the power of slowing my busy brain and tuning into my body.

It helped me tremendously for months, if not years. But, as life moved forward, I got too busy staying in the habit of doing it daily and ultimately, I forgot about it...

Until that day where I accidentally discovered the power of hypnosis - and this time, it changed everything. It wasn’t just about relaxation.

It was about reprogramming deep-seated beliefs, shifting from doubt to confidence, and learning to take bold action despite fear with much more ease and grace as compared to me pushing through fears in the years before.

Rewiring the Brain for Success and Courage

Understanding how the mind works - and how to rewire it - was my game changer.

And it can be for you too.

If you’ve ever…

❌ Felt like you weren’t qualified enough despite your skills and experience (hello, imposter syndrome).

❌ Taken rejection personally while watching men brush off failure effortlessly.

❌ Hesitated to speak up in meetings or go after that promotion because you weren’t “100% ready.”

❌ Struggled with the invisible load of expectations, perfectionism, and people-pleasing…

Then know this:

You are not the problem. Your mind has simply been conditioned to play small, to seek approval, and to fear stepping outside the lines. But the incredible part is – it’ doesn’t have to be this way - you can change!

Through mindset work and tools such as hypnosis, I’ve learned that confidence isn’t something you’re born with - it’s something you build. It’s about rewriting old narratives and training your brain to embrace courage, even when fear is present.

The message every ambitious woman to hear

If I could whisper one thing to my younger self - and to you - it would be this:

✔️ You are enough. Even before you prove, achieve, or perfect anything

✔️ Rejection is just redirection. Stop taking “no” as a stop sign - it’s simply a lesson

✔️ Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s taking action despite it

✔️ Your mind is your most powerful tool. Rewire it to work for you, not against you

I wish I had known all of this earlier in my career, before becoming a mom, before letting doubt hold me back. Before spending endless nights awake in fear thinking “when will they figure out… [enter any of your imposter thoughts here]”.

But now, I use what I’ve learned to help other women break free from their limitations and step into their full power.

Now it’s your turn: What advice would YOU give your younger self?

💬 Please drop it in the comments - I’d love to hear! 💛

Bringing transformation to you with Love, Light & Gratitude from north of Switzerland.