Why You Feel Like an Imposter and What to do About It.

About 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives and you might not be surprised to know that women experience it more than men.

As a female entrepreneur you know exactly what this feels like.

The feeling shows up when you're reaching for a new goal or you're in a new role and trying to level up in your business or personal life.

In those times, the voice in your head sounds something like this,

"They're going to find out that I really don't know what I'm doing., I'm really not qualified. And when they do, I'm going to be exposed, and I'm going to fail and everybody's going to know it, and I'll be embarrassed."

Can you relate?

Imposter Syndrome is this underlying feeling of not good enough and that somehow everything that I've achieved so far in my life is just luck. I'm not who they think I am.

Underlying negative limiting beliefs acquired in childhood are what usually drives imposter syndrome which makes it hard to overcome.

If you allow this feeling to go unchecked, imposter syndrome can have extreme consequences on your work, relationships and how you feel about yourself everyday.

My client, Donna, confessed that this feeling has stopped her from moving forward and growing her business even though she needs the potential income her business will bring in. The belief that she isn't enough and the worry of being found out and rejected is so strong that she was sacrificing her financial security rather than confront her belief and fear.

When I first started my business, I experienced the same thing. The first time I coached a client I was terrified. "Oh my gosh, wait till they find out that I don't really know what I'm doing and I just took all this money. Should I have taken this money? Maybe I should just give it back."

Now occasionally, imposter syndrome can have a positive effect.

You might have a drive to prove that you are good enough, which makes you work harder and be more focused on success. But usually your underlying limiting belief about yourself will trigger unhelpful feelings and action.

You're either...

• paralyzed because there's a fear that you're going to be exposed as not good enough or

• you just give up and feel like you won't be able to perform so might as well quit now.

• The other extreme is to work to your limit until you're exhausted and depleted so that you never enjoy any success you do achieve. Your life is completely out of balance.

What does imposter syndrome look like in your business day-to-day?

Under charging for your services😖

Delaying the launch of a product or service😖

Staying invisible on social media😖

Changing your niche or program all the time😖

Comparing yourself to other entrepreneurs which leads to procrastination 😖

So what can you do about it? Here are steps you can take to start breaking through your imposter syndrome and recognizing your gifts, talents, strengths and owning your value.

Listen to your self-talk and question where it's coming from.

Dealing with imposter syndrome begins with awareness. Often the things we tell ourself just repeat on a loop in our minds and we accept them as truth. To break these patterns it's necessary to pay attention to your inner voice and to start questioning it. Ask yourself, "Is it really true that I've just been lucky or was that promotion due to my hardwork and expertise?"

Once you are more aware of your thoughts, ask yourself what belief is driving that thinking. When did I start believing this? Many of our beliefs were handed down to us. As children our minds just absorb what we hear from adults and never question it. When you acknowledge the source of the belief you can start doing the work to eliminate it and rewire your mind with new positive beliefs.

Track your wins

Those of us who struggle with imposter syndrome tend to focus on our mistakes and failures rather than our wins. Start writing down your wins and take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate them.

Another way to acknowledge your accomplishments is to receive compliments with gratitude instead of just dismissing them. When someone tells you how great they thought your presentation was, let that sink in and say thank you.

Accept and expect failure and mistakes

It's easy to compare yourself to others and think that everything comes easy to that entrepreneur who is making six figures, especially when we stare at her perfect instagram page. But the truth is likely very different. No one reaches great success without struggle. Knowing that is true and being willing to fail in the beginning of any endeavor helps you manage your own expectations. No one expects perfection from you. Give yourself some space to make mistakes. Perfection is not required. It's normal to feel this way.

If your limiting beliefs are stopping you from achieving the business and life of your dreams, and you need I have a solution. Click here to learn more about my Ready To Thrive Program.