Unstuck and Unflustered: A Guide to Dealing with Authority Figures Without Losing Your Cool

Your supervisor drops by your desk and says, “Hey, I have a question for you. Can you stop by my desk?”

You: Go into instant freeze mode and start overthinking:

• “What could they possibly want?

• “It’s probably that document I put together…she hates it!”

• “They didn’t like what I said in the meeting and I’m going to get reprimanded.”

Does this sound like a familiar response when a person in a position of authority approaches you with any kind of question? Where you immediately go to the worse possible outcome obsessively thinking about what you did wrong and how you never doing anything right. How this person won’t ever respect or value you. And, then you start to ask why you’re even in that job as you clearly don’t know anything?

All of sudden you go down the rabbit hole of chronic worry for several hours. Then, you learn that person simply wanted to know how to find a document she was struggling to locate!

This is just a simple example to illustrate how powerful the mind can be – and also how much power we, as codependents often give to people in authority positions when we are grown, capable adults.

Where does this come from? And, why are we freaking out?

Chances are, you have had negative experiences with authority figures. Possibly a parent had extremely high and unrealistic expectations of you as a child. You may have felt that you needed to be perfect, not able to make any mistakes, in order to receive love and acceptance from them.

This can result in low self-esteem and self-doubt and create this need for validation and approval from others. Sometimes, as adults, we even place people in authority positions at work into the parental figure seat so we can repeat the patterns from childhood. It’s a dangerous place to be because this is learned behavior from childhood that is no longer serving us in adulthood. It kept us safe as kids, and now holds us back. 

Unfortunately this is not an easy thing to untangle from. I’ve been working on it for years. My therapist says, “It takes as long as you want it to take.” I say, it’s a process. And, sometimes I have to go back to the basics when I start to freak out:

• Slow breathing to calm the nervous system. I really like alternate nostril breathing. It really does the trick when you remember to do it! Makes you relax and feel grounded. Here’s a great article that explains it.

• Don’t assume the worst. Old thinking patterns are hard to break, however, you are in control. You can decide to rise above the thoughts and not overthink. Sharing my concerns and feelings with trusted and safe friends has been very helpful for me to gain another perspective, too.  

• Recite affirmations. Remember, you are inherently worthy just for being you. And in this case, this company hired you! They have believe and confidence that you can do your job. As codependents, it’s easy to assume that everyone knows better than us when that isn’t the truth. We have purpose and worth. I have several affirmations that I use when I’m feeling less than:

  • I am worthy

  • I am confident

  • I am safe, loved, secure and protected

  • The truth is my identity

• Practice some responses. We don’t know everything and it’s ok to say we don’t know. Brevity is key. If you don’t know the answer to a question, some potential responses could include:

  • "I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to that."

  • "I'm not sure, but I can attempt to find out for you.”

  • "I don't have that information, but perhaps someone else in our group does."

  • "I'm not certain, but I can take some time to research and get back to you."

  • "I don't have a clear answer, but I would be happy to speculate based on what I do know.”

• Be thankful for the awareness. We tend to beat ourselves up when we are in recovery. Especially if we’ve been on the journey for a while and we stumble on an old rock we should’ve seen coming. When awareness to an old wound comes up, see it as an opportunity to revisit and heal it.

In conclusion, it's common for people to feel anxious or fearful when confronted with authority figures, especially if they have had negative experiences with authority in the past. However, it's important to recognize that these feelings are often based on past experiences and not necessarily on the present situation. By using techniques such as deep breathing, refraining from making assumptions, using affirmations, and practicing responses, it's possible to overcome these negative thought patterns and react in a more balanced and confident way when faced with questions from authority figures. It's also important to remember that seeking support from trusted friends or therapy can be helpful in addressing these issues and working through them.

Get Unstuck with Us: Introducing the Unstuck on You Podcast

As a codependent, it’s easy to cheer on everyone else’s dreams. For me, it often would show up when I would see people around me starting their own businesses. I would root for them and offer support and ideas. I even felt like I was sitting in a place of wisdom because of my marketing expertise and pure interest in one day taking a leap, too. Though on the inside, I hated myself. These people were designing their dreams and I didn’t have the first clue for what my own dream entailed.

Other people’s hopes and dreams feel so hopeful, so moving, so daring. How could I ever imagine those sorts of things for myself?

The truth is: codependents don’t. We are often so wrapped up in others that we never take the time to dream or imagine a future – especially one where we are at the helm. For years, I never allowed myself to have a dream. My dreams were essentially other people’s dreams. I was content to be part of them.

When I got divorced in 2019, I started taking some mini leaps toward dream making. I signed up for Katie Dalebout’s “Let a Podcast Out” program (https://letitouttt.com/). It was a comprehensive online course helping others learn how to successfully launch a podcast! I was motivated. I bought a podcast mic, I hired a graphic designer for a kick-ass logo and I interviewed my first guest! I was doing it…for about three months.

Until I wasn’t.

It all came to a standstill. I had my first significant financial blip as a single mom and I used that as a reason to stop moving one of my first dreams forward. I told myself that I had taken the podcast far enough and that’s all I’m really meant to do with it. Honest truth? My financial woes served as a nice disguise for what was really going on. I was scared:

1. What will people think of my podcast?

2. Am I any good at interviewing? Am I good at having meaningful conversations with others and skilled at asking the right questions?

3. Will people think I’m getting personal? Is codependency too personal of a topic?

4. What will my family and friends think? Will they abandon me for doing this work? Will they think I don’t love them?

5. Do I even have something of value to offer? Does my voice even matter in a sea of successful and educated professionals talking about this very subject?

And all of a sudden, my dream-making adventure turned into an excuse-making vortex. It took me three years to make my way back to what I started. Why? Because I’m in recovery. And when you’re in recovery, you sometimes fall in a low self worth pit of despair that you have to crawl out of because you’re learning new things about patterns and behaviors that no longer serve you. Sometimes old patterns aren’t super obvious to us and it takes a bit to course correct.

When the podcast was in a two-year coma, I did remain committed to doing the work. I wrote poetry, reparented my inner child, journaled my awarenesses and wrote “I am worthy” affirmations every morning, met with my therapist every Tuesday night and did kundalini yoga several times a week.

Recovery is a process. My commitment to my healing practices eventually led me back to that little dream I conceived in 2019. I started to realize that I just gotta do it! That feeling of “what could’ve been” with the podcast still remained. I heard the whispers often, “Take a small step.” And I did just that in May 2022, when I published the podcast episode I had recorded three years prior. I just did that one thing. Then the next step: I knew I had to share it, yet I was scared of judgment, rejection and abandonment (see above list). Then I shared it. And those little steps, turned into me taking more little steps. I began setting up podcast interviews with people who I admire and respect. Those conversations were so fun and lit me up in a way that doesn’t happen often. The more I said “yes,” the more delight and alignment showed up.

So here I am today – a few published podcasts, a new blog and website and it’s starting to become clearer that regardless of the outcome, I am beginning to trust myself and that makes me smile. Here’s what I am learning in this process:

1. There will always be roadblocks and obstacles when trying something new and taking a risk. Keep forging ahead.

2. A negative voice will be present at all times. It’s the brain’s way of keeping us safe. There is no logic or fact that the brain is working from in these moments. Best to give those thoughts a “job” and just do it anyway.

3. Ask for help! Chances are you know someone who is doing you’re doing or they know someone. Or you can watch a YouTube video. Either way, we have so many resources at our disposal. Just ask for help. People actually feel amazing when they are helping you, too!

4. Not everyone in your family or friends circle is going to be amped up about what you’re doing. They might not read or listen to what you create. They may be busy with other stuff or just not be interested. It doesn’t mean that they don’t think what you’re doing is awesome!

5. Connect within to find your path. Get quiet. Meditate. Pay attention when you’re looking for external validation. It’s a thing for me and I often go looking for “pats on the back.” Be proud of the work you create and trust the inner guidance you receive.

6. Your calling is YOUR calling. Be brave and do it anyway. What small step can you take?

7. Use your voice even when you’d rather want to stay safe. It’s still hard for me to tell people what I’m doing because I’m worried they will judge or criticize me.

8. I’m going to make mistakes, however, when they happen, I choose to see them as learning opportunities and own that this is part of the journey.

It’s been a slow start. It’s MY start. I’m proud of me. Cheers to taking one small step. They add up. I hope you take one today.