Dr. Julie Smith

But it's different because, you know, I've had that experience where I guess you've been in the public eye since, you know, what, 16, before 16 maybe?

Whereas I have had that very private, simple life and then been thrust into this stuff.

I noticed how in that kind of more private life, I felt like a confident person.

I felt like I was happy with who I was.

Everything was OK just by being more public.

it sort of threw all of that up in the air in some ways.

And things that I felt like I was comfortable with or parts of myself that I hadn't even thought to worry about suddenly became magnified.

Is that enough?

Or do I look right?

Do I sound right?

Do I know enough?

All of these.

So as soon as you feel exposed and public in front of people you don't even know,

It changes all of that stuff, doesn't it?

And it magnifies any tiny insecurity you may have.

And it forces you to then do the work to think about why is that there?

And does it matter?

And how do I get around it?

Do I just relentlessly try to be more and more perfect?

Or can I come to a place where I'm okay with being imperfect and anticipating the judgment that might come from it?