Welcome to the Workshop Weekly Podcast with your host Kelly Lawson. Today Kelly is discussing the biggest barrier between you and your full potential: imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome can be explained as a constant feeling of inadequacy despite evidence of success. It is self-doubt even when you have external proof of your accomplishments.
Does this sound like something you’ve experienced? Imposter syndrome doesn’t discriminate; many professionals and highly successful individuals have experienced it at some point in their lives.
Kelly covers the six main themes related to imposter syndrome and what you can do to combat them, including daily exercises.
You can follow along in Kelly’s free workbook, available here.
1. My idea is not unique, there are so many others doing it well already.
There is only one of you and while your idea may not be unique, the way you will execute it is; no one will do it like you.
What if you tried replacing that shitty self-talk with this truth bomb:
YOU ARE UNIQUE – THERE IS LITERALLY ONLY ONE OF YOU.
Here’s the important thing you need to understand: your idea probably isn’t. And that’s ok.
MOST IDEAS ARE NOT ORIGINAL. MOST DREAMS ARE NOT UNIQUE.
2. I don’t feel ready.
The only way to beat fear is just to start. The sooner you do what scares you, the sooner it will become less scary.
Guess what? Things are never ready. So instead of waiting for a perfect moment that will never come, here’s what you’ve got to do:
JUST START – DESPITE NOT FEELING READY.
Easy right? Haha, ok, maybe that sounds easier said than done. Let’s explore.
The more you do the scary thing, the sooner it will become less scary, and the sooner you do it, the sooner you will get better and better at it.
3. What if I start and can’t stick with it?
Make a schedule and put other people in it, you’ll stay on track if you’re accountable to others.
This is when you need to
TAKE CONSISTENT ACTION – EVEN WHEN IT FEELS WRONG OR SCARY.
This one’s all about the practical steps that will naturally build momentum and fuel your progress.
IT’S ONLY MY FIRST EPISODE, BUT I THINK I KNOW YOU AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT ALREADY.
I know that you are the kind of person who is committed to the people in your life and would never want to let them down.
When it comes to putting your dreams, goals, and ideas first, well, that’s when things fall apart.
Today, that stops, ok? I want you to commit to yourself and follow your own big dream or big goal as if you’ve committed it to someone other than yourself. That can feel scary or even wrong, to put ourselves first. But you don’t serve others by sacrificing yourself.
4. What will people think or say?
Put on your blinders and stay focused. Stop the comparison game.
This one is a killer. Girlfriend, this is when you’ve gotta
PUT YOUR BLINDERS ON AND STAY FOCUSED.
Stay in your lane with what other people are doing, stop the comparison game, stay in your lane with regards to what other people might be thinking or saying, and stay in your lane with respect to ignoring the shiny objects.
5. The competition is too fierce.
Flip the belief that someone’s win is your loss; there is enough success to go around.
You might not know this already, but it is a cold hard fact that mindset can radically affect the course of your life. Overwhelming research on mindset shows that the way you think about yourself and the world around you can drastically change the way you learn, how you handle stress, how you create success, your resilience, and even how your immune system functions.
YOU CAN BOTH WIN!
We’re going to deep-dive into the abundance mindset in an upcoming episode. For now, I just want you to pay attention to those times when you find yourself begrudging someone else’s success, or playing that tiny, sad “I’ll never succeed” violin to yourself.
You can, and you will, but not with that mindset.
6. I don’t deserve any accolades.
Don’t minimize your achievements, but give credit where it is due.
What if you kicked this self-deprecation to the curb and instead
OWN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESSES
Hopefully, by now you’ve learned that imposter syndrome doesn’t discriminate. I mean, even the majority of HARVARD grads identify with imposter syndrome. I’m sure that somewhere along the way Oprah and Beyonce have had to come to terms with their own imposter syndromes before they could realize their own success. So we need to work on your self-talk. I want you to write down all of your credentials for the thing that you are dreaming of doing or the goal that you want to knock out of the park. Seriously, grab a pen and Write em down! And by the way, a reminder that there is a workbook to go with this episode that summarizes and outlines everything for you so you can just go in and fill these things out.
Sometimes, in an effort to avoid sounding like a blowhard, you might become overly modest, but keeping your success to yourself and minimizing your achievements can be a problem too. Perhaps you just got a promotion, and you don’t tell your friends the good news because you’re afraid they’ll think you’re bragging. Consequently, they miss out on celebrating with you. Or maybe you’re talking to your boss during your annual performance review, and you downplay your achievements to avoid sounding like a narcissist. Ultimately, you may get passed over for a promotion.
Kelly’s free guide to taking product photos that sell:
Read The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People https://kellylawson.ca/books
Check out today’s sponsors!
Save 10% on Sheertex pantyhose with code KELLYSLAWSON10:
https://kellylawson.ca/sheertex
Save $40 on your first box with HelloFresh:
https://kellylawson.ca/hellofresh
Save 15% on your new TONIC site with code KELLYLAWSON
https://kellylawson.ca/tonicsite
Learn what’s in Kelly’s capsule this season: