September 2025

It’s September! Where did the year go? Maybe because I have been following my heart is the reason the year has gone by so fast. Doing what I love makes each day a new opportunity. Redeem Thyself’s platforms are growing: I am DMing daily with multiple followers, the Youtube channel was launched, and this month we will start our podcast. And, there is something else that will start this month. Keep an eye on IG and FB for more information. 

Of course, I cannot do all this work alone. I am the driver, the words, and the passion, but so very grateful to those who encourage me. I want to give a shout out to my marketing gal Alli Marie from Alli Marie Marketing. Our weekly meetings really keep me motivated. Most importantly, I want to give a shout out to my daughter, Kimberly, who does all of my graphic designs, manages my posts, and so, so much more. You can find her at Kimberly Lane Photography. I cannot do this work without her.

I look forward to sharing more throughout the month of September.

Each month, Redeem Thyself highlights an Instagram Follower. The follower will eventually be selected based on engagement and collaboration during the previous month. However, for our 2025 Redeem Thyself Journal,I need to recognize so many who have been so present in posts, DMs, collaborations, and stories since the IG launch in July 2024. For the month of September 2025, I would like to highlight the work of my IG follower Deborah who founded @daily.decisions.

Deborah has been a consistent follower and commenter on my IG posts. I had the opportunity to connect with her virtually and learn about her drive and her passion to help others be happy. Deborah Mallow is a motivational speaker, mindset and success coach, and author of the book 6 Steps To Fewer Days That Suck. She’s also the creator of The Daily Decisions and its companion community, The Positive Energy Club—a space designed to help people get unstuck, feel more joy, and live with greater intention. Think of her as your personal cheerleader for joy—minus the pom-poms—but with plenty of sparkle. 

“Fellow Follower: 

I am a native New Yorker who has always been drawn to inspiration from the city’s bold energy and rhythm. My path from creative entrepreneurship to a demanding career in corporate sales—sparked a deeper understanding of burnout, resilience, and a passion for helping others thrive. And, my career path has been anything but conventional. I began as a home furnishings and giftware designer, licensing my own work worldwide. Then, in a complete 360, I pivoted into biotech pharmaceutical sales—quickly becoming a #1-ranked sales representative year after year. On the outside, it looked like I had it all together—but on the inside I was running on empty. 

It all came to a head one day while standing on a New York City subway platform between back-to-back sales calls. Exhausted and drained, I blurted out loud: “If I don’t change, nothing ever will.” That moment became my personal wake-up call—and a turning point. From there, I reimagined her life—not by chasing perfection, but by leaning into presence, purpose, and joy. I created a toolkit of mindset shifts and positive habits—strategies that became the foundation for my book, my coaching method, and my message to others: That even on cloudy days, we all deserve to find our sunshine.

Through what I call the C.A.R.E. framework—Confidence, Awareness, Resilience, and Energy—I tell others how to own their voice, build emotional strength, and change their mindset in simple, practical ways. She believes true positivity isn’t about pretending life is perfect—it’s about choosing to show up for yourself, even when life gets messy.

Today, I live and work in Manhattan—my forever favorite city. For me, New York is more than just a home; it’s a living breathing source of energy, connection, and creativity. It’s where I take spontaneous walks through Central Park, catch Broadway shows, visit museums, or run into friends in the most unexpected places. I also make time to travel—a life-long passion that fuels my curiosity and love of culture, people, and history.

My legacy is built on empathy, kindness, and heart. I want to be remembered not just for the work I’ve done, but for the life I’ve lived—a life that lifts others, inspires joy, and reminds people they're not alone—that they’re seen, valued, and appreciated. My message is simple but powerful: Mindset is everything, presence is key, and even in tough moments, there’s always a little sparkle to be found.”

Thank you Deborah for sharing with us. If you would like to stay connected with Deborah you can find her and her book here:

Website | Join her positive energy club | Purchase her book 6 Steps To Fewer Days That Suck | Follow Deborah on Instagram

Imposter Syndrome: When Success Feels Hollow

I was introduced to the term “imposter syndrome” through my doctoral students who were working on their dissertation research. I had not heard of it prior to that and found it quite interesting. At first I thought it was some social media created syndrome with no basis. With a bit of research, I came to realize it was first coined some 40 years ago. I wanted to share with you what I have learned as I quickly discovered that its characteristics are those that I clearly “get.”

Many high-achieving individuals experience imposter syndrome - persistent self-doubt and the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite clear successes. This phenomenon, also known as the impostor phenomenon, was first identified in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, who studied accomplished women who internalized feelings of intellectual phoniness even as their achievements grew. Yet, recent research shows that imposter syndrome is far more widespread than once thought. A global meta-analysis of healthcare professionals revealed that roughly 62% reported experiencing imposter feelings. In the corporate arena, a 2024 Korn Ferry survey found that 71% of U.S. CEOs also report such self-doubt in their leadership roles.

Although not classified as a psychiatric disorder - and absent from the DSM‑5—imposter syndrome is closely associated with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and burnout. To break the cycle of self-doubt, experts recommend several approaches. A very recent narrative account in The Guardian describes how a therapist helped a professional to reframe her inner critic with a playful exercise dubbed “making it, not faking it;” encouraging her to embrace her competence rather than dismiss it.

As imposter syndrome continues to affect people across industries and levels, awareness and cognitive reframing combined with supportive environments remain key tools for helping individuals move from “feeling like frauds” to owning their achievements. I hope to one day achieve this sense of ownership for all that I have accomplished. 

My blogs are typically posted each Sunday on the Redeem Thyself webpage. I do hope you find encouragement, strength, and resilience in reading the blogs. We can learn from one another and know that it is possible to heal, recover, and move forward in a more healthy way of simply doing life day to day.

Website: j. m. lane

Instagram: @redeem_thyself

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Facebook: Redeem Thyself

Email: info@juliemlane.com

775.560.5151

Note: JM Lane is NOT a mental health professional, nor does she carry a license to practice medicine. Posts, blogs, and content are based on JM Lane’s personal experiences, perceptions, and reflections. By no means does any material convey what others should or should not do.

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