Do you suffer from Imposter Syndrome?

I’ve been in business for over 20 years now, doing a variety of different types of things. I started out as a virtual assistant and here I am 23 years later running a labour hire business as well as a finance broker/mortgage broker. But do you know, I still some days feel like I’m not good enough, that I wonder how I am here today still running a business. I wonder how people take me seriously and wonder how I can be seen as an expert in my field.

But then I take a look at my successes. I remember that I am a single parent and I am raising four beautiful, intelligent, well adjusted kids that know how to save their money and know how to cook and clean and are kind human beings. I remember that I am paying off a mortgage and that I have been able to provide a good education for my kids at semi private school. I remember that I have been able to take them away on holidays each year, sometimes overseas, sometimes camping. And I remember that I am able to work quite flexibly and be there for my ageing parents and my siblings and I deal with Dementia and Alzheimers in our parents.

I also know that I have impacted many people’s lives. I love doing what I do and am constantly rewarded by helping single mums, couples, first home buyers, investors purchase their first, second or dream homes. It is something that brings me great joy.

We are all super critical of ourselves, our successes, our strengths – I think as women we are used to putting others first and therefore find it quite hard to be proud of ourselves and our achievements. We find it hard to believe that we deserve to be here, to succeed and be looked up. It really is just an extension of self doubt. Sometimes it’s because we see ourselves as “just a mum” who has started a side hustle.

I’m here now to tell you that this is not true. There’s no such thing as being “just a mum”. We need to acknowledge our achievements and support each other in our endeavours. We need to raise awareness in our circles of what we can and have done. It’s time to stop making comparisons amongst themselves. We are all where we need to be in our journey of life.

Here’s some tips to overcome Imposter Syndrome :

• Acknowledge that you feel like this sometimes
• Recognise and call out these disruptive thoughts and feelings when they emerge
• Make a mental note or write down your thoughts as they occur
• Hang out with inspiring women who build you up and support you
• Start journaling – write down all the things you are good at each day
• Take one day at a time and remind yourself how great you are!

We are all human, fragile beings but as women we have the power in our hands to shape the world. The Dalai Lama, at the peace conference in 2015 said that “Western women had the power to change the world”. Let’s do this together.