OMG! Am I fraud? Impostor Syndrome!

Am I kidding myself... 

Yep! You sure are! You're kidding yourself! This is the Impostor Syndrome aka feeling like a fraud, maybe like you're not good enough, you doubt your skill set or abilities.

If you keep telling yourself that; you will eventually begin to believe it!

Today we are talking about the dreaded impostor syndrome. Most of us go through this! It's how our brain's way is hard-wired to protect ourselves. Our brain is designed to protect us at all costs, and if you get an icky angst-like feeling, guess what?
It's completely normal! It has taken me years for me to figure this out! I still work on this daily. ​​ 

The way you talk to yourself in your own head or out loud is so important!  This is the most important relationship you will ever have in your life, the relationship with yourself!  So, give yourself some grace.

I bet you give your friends and family grace all the time. We are so nice to the people we love, admire, & respect, but sometimes we can be the biggest bullies to ourselves with negative self-talk.

​You got to quit that shit, or you will start to believe it. ​Below are 5 tips to help cope with impostor syndrome.

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1. Accept the fact that you are not going to be the best at everything. We all have characteristics and skills that are our jam! Most solo-entrepreneurs, myself included, try to do everything they can in the first few years to save money & eventually end up wasting a bunch of time when they could have outsourced it to someone who is much more equipped for the task. 
2. Stop comparing your journey to others' journeys. There is a quote "Comparison is the thief of joy." I believe it was Theodore Roosevelt who once said this, and if you find that you are comparing yourself to someone in the same industry as you, try to reach out and connect with them. You might be able to learn a thing or 2 from them!
3. Don't imitate or copy your competitors. As cheesy as it sounds, there is only one you, and that is your super power! This is what they mean by making authentic content that comes from you. Yes, you can be inspired by someone, but when you copy someone, you're losing what makes you, you! 
4. Talk about your feelings and anxieties about impostor syndrome. More often than not, you will find someone in your field or group of peers that feels the exact same way as you do. This makes you feel less like a fraud, because guess what? Everyone goes through it! 
5. Stop being your own worst enemy! I know many ladies who will lift each other up so high, but when it comes to themselves they talk so negatively to themselves. This takes practice! Start with affirmations. State them in a present voice as if they are happening now. For instance, I am strong. I am prosperous. I am competent!

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​​The bottom line is, most people go through this impostor syndrome. We all want to be the best we can be! We all want to be successful! This can also lead to anxiety and depression when things don't go your way, and you get stuck in your head. I've heard it from actors, comedians, content creators, any one who puts themselves out there experiences these feelings. So, take a deep breath, & remind yourself, you got this! You're not a fraud. You may be just starting out, but we all have to start from somewhere! You just may end up surprising yourself!