One of the most common business coaching questions I’m asked to address and coach around is how to deal with Impostor Syndrome. That seems to be especially true of holistic healers.
Here are a few comments/tips that may help:
- Impostor syndrome is common in the integrative arts field… Part of the reason is the fact that a lot of people in the Western culture (including most healthcare professionals) don't take the integrative arts as seriously as they should. To one degree or another, we're all conditioned to feel the same way, in spite of having witnessed and experienced the effectiveness of several holistic modalities... So, part of our work as integrative arts practitioners is to educate others, as we continue to educate ourselves.
The articles below share additional tips on how to overcome Impostor Syndrome and build self-confidence:
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in Your Coaching Business
How to Overcome ‘Impostor Syndrome’
13 Self-Confidence Tips To Rock Your Life
- At the core of this issue is that old fear of not being good enough and being unworthy. Under the influence of these limiting core beliefs, we end up attracting people, events and circumstances that reinforce those beliefs and fears… In addition, the extend to which we allow other people's criticism and doubt to bother us is in direct proportion to how critical and doubtful we are of ourselves.
To help you further on this journey, I recommend using hypno-coaching to work through resistance and fears. A good script to begin with would be the Wall of Fear by Linda Bennett, with focus on the fears of not being good enough and/or being unworthy. A good follow-up script for releasing limitations would be Removing the Armor, also by Linda Bennett.
- Time and practice will help you build confidence; but with what you have learned so far, along with your gifts, talents and a lifetime of experience, you can already help a lot of people. You've answered your calling for a reason; the people you're ready to help will come to you and you will learn along with them. After all, everyone has to start somewhere…
As Marie Forleo says, start before you think you're ready. And remember: No one can do what you do the way you do it! Your authentic voice, approach, style, background, training, experience, etc, are unique to you!
- It’s ok to say: “I don’t know.” On one hand, we can only take our clients where we're willing to go ourselves. On the other hand, we don't have to feel like we're in a perfect place to help others; showing up as a real person actually helps to better engage and connect with our audience. We can share some of the struggles we’ve overcome and use that as an opportunity to demonstrate how much the tools we practice continue to make a difference in how we navigate our own lives.
In other words, you don’t have to be perfect; you just need to be functional (most of the times). You’ve learned the tools and can not only demonstrate, but also teach these tools to help others.
It's also ok to say to a client: "I don't know; I'll do some research and get back to you." In addition, you can work in partnership with other professionals to serve your clients, or refer them out, if necessary.
- In case the issue relates to having perfectionism tendencies, you might also find the article and resource below helpful:
Becoming a Functional Perfectionist
Dr.Nicole LePera - The Holistic Psychologist
- Impostor Syndrome is sometimes related to feeling vulnerable and being afraid of rejection or criticism for coming out of the closet with your beliefs, vision and mission, and authentic voice. More than ever in history, public rejection by haters and trolls or others who resent success has become part of the game. The bottom line is: If we do our job right, that’s bound to happen sooner or later, to some degree or another… So the best thing to do is to learn effective ways to deal with those situations, rather than trying to keep our heads down and blend in. It’s about becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable, rather than constantly avoiding discomfort. We don’t serve anyone by keeping ourselves small (ourselves included).
- Impostor syndrome is often related to fear of failure/success. It's important to remember that failure paves the road to success. Allowing ourselves to make mistakes or fail and learn the necessary lessons without beating ourselves up is one of the most empowering and self-loving choices we can make.
Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win or I learn.”
For more on the fear of failure/success:
Afraid to Fail Means Afraid to Succeed
- Be careful to not fall into the comparison trap! Each one of us is on our own path, with different challenges, goals and aspirations than everyone else's.
On the other hand, we can practice positive comparison by choosing to look up to someone who's just a bit ahead of us for inspiration and motivation.
FINAL THOUGHT: You are exactly where you need to be, doing exactly what you’re meant to do, at exactly the right time. Just keep moving forward, one step at a time, trusting that the path ahead will continue to materialize as you take the next step; and that you will be there, continuously growing and learning, and ready to meet any challenge/learning experience on your path :)
Gisele Marasca-Vargas; 03/25/2024
Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash