How often is the way we view ourselves not lined up with reality? This is the first thing that came to mind when I sat down to talk with my friend and colleague David Sarwar, ranked in the top 2% of scientists worldwide.

David shared a fascinating psychological phenomenon of “phantom” or “ghost fat,”

“Phantom fat” refers to a psychological phenomenon where despite having lost a significant amount of weight, someone perceives themselves as being overweight or “fat,” even when their reflection shows a much slimmer body.

He goes on to share,

“There’s oftentimes a disconnect between what we see when we look in the mirror and how we see ourselves in our own mind’s eye”

I thought, well, this makes so much sense not only in the world of weight loss but just in our worldview. Let me explain…

It’s as if we cannot register reality, deciding instead to cling to an outsized version of ourselves.

How many of you can relate to this after having lost weight? How many of you can relate to this in other areas of your life, the inability to see yourself for who you really are, the inability to acknowledge your successes or celebrate your wins?

There are consequences to this altered reality. Not only in our personal lives but also our professional lives. Some include:

1. Impaired Decision-Making

• Overanalyzing and Indecisiveness: Fear of making mistakes leads to hesitation and missed opportunities.

• Risk Aversion: Avoiding challenges or innovation due to self-doubt.

2. Reduced Confidence and Executive Presence

• Hesitation in Speaking Up: Holding back ideas in meetings or discussions.

• Weak Leadership Presence: Lack of conviction makes it harder to inspire or influence others.

3. Increased Stress and Burnout

• Perfectionism: Feeling never “good enough” leads to overwork and exhaustion.

• Emotional Drain: Constant self-criticism depletes energy and focus.

4. Limited Career Growth

• Avoiding Promotions or Challenges: Believing oneself unworthy leads to stagnation.

• Undervaluing Contributions: Accepting lower pay or fewer opportunities.

5. Strained Professional Relationships

• Seeking Excessive Validation: Dependence on approval rather than trusting one’s judgment.

• Defensiveness or Withdrawal: Perceiving feedback as personal failure rather than growth.

6. Reactive Rather Than Intentional Living

• Short-Term Focus: Reacting to pressures instead of shaping long-term goals.

• Lack of Authenticity: Trying to conform rather than lead with purpose

I encourage you to ask yourself, how is “phantom X,” (you get to chose what x is) negatively impacting your life and can you use some tools to change that?

Dr. Sarwar gives us some guidance on this week’s podcast, you can listen to the full episode here!