IMPOSTER SYNDROME - raise your hand 🙋 if you've ever felt it or feel it?
Yeah, me too, I was right there with you. When I started my business, I would refer to it as 'you know the photography thing.' It took me almost two years and a business coach before I started claiming my identity as a photographer in business.
Learning how to overcome imposter syndrome takes time, but with the right daily practices, you can kick it in the ass.
We have all experienced imposter syndrome at one point or another in our lives. For many, imposter syndrome can be debilitating in the first few months or years of our new business.
Imposter syndrome, if not put in its place, keeps us playing small. Today I am sharing with you ways to overcome imposter syndrome so you can show up in this world as the person you are meant to be.
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
#1. Journal
For me, journaling has been pivotal in changing the way I think about my self and my life. When I first started journaling, I wrote stream of consciousness. As writing became more comfortable, I integrated affirmations circling around areas in my life, I felt most insecure.
Writing through my insecurities and fears took me out of victim mode by giving me perspective on what was actually real verse negative limiting beliefs. Imposter syndrome comes down is rooted in the limiting beliefe that we are unworthy or not enough. Taking up a daily journaling practice will help you disrupt these thought patterns giving ways for new beliefs to form.
Here are three journaling themes you can use to work through imposter syndrome.
~ Write I am statements/ affirmations - sometimes we have to start small, writing affirming statements disrupts the negative self-talk pattern.
Over time our subconscious mind begins to rewire for the better, and feelings of unworthiness begin to diminish.
I recommend writing 5-10 affirmations for areas in your life you feel you need the most work. Rewrite them every day until you feel you don't need to write them anymore.
~ Write about forgiveness - when we suffer from imposter syndrome, we almost always suffer from perfectionism or that not enough feeling. The judge and jury in our head, you know the one who is picking apart every wrong move you make can make life shear hell.
Forgiveness is the greatest healing gift we can give to ourselves. If you struggle with forgiving yourself, you can think of it this way -"would I treat a friend or family member the way I am treating myself?" 9 times out of 10, the answer is no.
Here's an example of a forgiveness you might need to give yourself,
"I lost my temper today and lashed out. I forgive you for losing patience today and lashing out. You are doing your best, and next time you will handle the situation better."
~ Set goals, small goals that align with your affirmations, forgiveness statements, or ones that push you out of your comfort zone will focus your energy in the right direction.
For example, if I struggle with patience when I get frustrated I could make my daily goal this,
"Today, I want to practice patience, when I feel myself getting frustrated, I am going to take a deep breath and ask myself why I am feeling that way? Most of the time, when I feel frustrated, it's because I feel misunderstood, so I will try to express myself more directly to feel heard."
When you first start journaling, you don't have to commit to all three themes at once, and you don't