Written by: Kristina Todorova, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
“Who am I to do this?”
“I am not an expert.”
“There are so many other people who are already doing what I want to do (thinking: I am not different).”
Have any of these thoughts crossed your mind? If they have, you are not alone. A lot of people struggle with impostor syndrome –aspiring and new entrepreneurs especially so. If you keep doubting yourself and procrastinating on your dreams because you think “you aren’t good enough (yet) to start”, it’s time that you change that narrative – consciously.
There are three simple steps that you can take to quickly snap out of “impostor thinking” every time your inner impostor kicks in.
Step1: Remind yourself you are not your thoughts
The fact that you may be thinking you are not an expert or good enough “yet” to act on your aspirations does not mean these thoughts are true. You don’t have to believe them and let them create a sense of inadequacy that can prevent you from taking action or stop you in your tracks.
By simply reminding yourself that you do not need to believe what you are thinking, you are taking control of your thoughts and it would be easier for you to change them and completely release this self-limiting way of thinking. You can use mantras such as “I do not need to believe this” or add a bit of humour by saying to yourself “Here we go again, my impostor is back. I am not going to let you talk to me.” You can even “fire” your impostor. I often get my clients to fire theirs – it is a fun game which involves writing a letter of termination and addressing it to their "inner impostor". This game helps you distinguish yourself from your critic who is often telling you stories that are highly likely untrue.
Step 2: Challenge your self-talk
Another effective technique that you can also use is challenging the validity of these thoughts. If they aren’t true, why aren’t they true? What evidence can you think of that shows you they are false? You can write all the reasons why these thoughts are simply not true.
Your ego will often push forward thoughts of doubt so that it can stop you from putting yourself in danger. Its job is to protect you from pain and disappointment and when it starts to give you all the reasons why you can’t or shouldn’t do something, it is because it does not want you to expose yourself to situations that can cause unwanted emotions.
Step 3: Picture yourself as the version of you that is already living your dreams
Visualisation is a powerful exercise that can help you tap into the experiences that the version of you who has already achieved your dreams is living. If you had already realised these dreams, how would you be living? What would you be doing? How would you be feeling? When you picture yourself having these experiences, you are embodying your future self.
And, if you can clearly see yourself living those dreams, they are meant for you. This simple shift in belief can support you in beginning to change your perception of your ability to fully realise your aspirations and dreams. In NLP coaching, there is a technique called “Future Pacing” which involves imagining yourself experiencing your desired outcomes as already achieved. Once you have done that (through exercises such as visualisation) and tapped into your future success, you can bring yourself back to the present moment and identify the next three steps you can take right now to start or make progress on your dream, giving yourself all the reasons why you are capable enough of achieving it.
Your mind is a tool that you can control
By doing the above steps consecutively, you are taking control of your mind and teaching it what to think so that you can instil a sense of self-belief and feel more prepared to embark on the path to realising your dream or keep taking action. Your mind is a tool that is there to serve and not sabotage you. By learning how to see it as a tool and give guidance to it intentionally, it can help you to not only feel much more confident but to energetically align with the dream vision for your life and business. If you believe in and follow the principles of the Law of Attraction like I do, you know how quickly things can begin to change for you for the better because the key to success has always been within you and your ability to work with your mind in a conscious manner.
Kristina Todorova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
"Kristina is a certified Transformational Life Coach and Founder of Coaching for Transformers – a coaching & training company dedicated to helping people learn how to utilise the creative power of their mind and energy to build a life around their passions, talents, and heart’s desires.
Following working as a trainer and corporate coach and helping hundreds of professionals reach a heightened level of performance, she decided to leave the corporate world and embark on the path of entrepreneurship. She founded Coaching for Transformers in 2017 and has, since then, been working with aspiring and new entrepreneurs, helping them create businesses and lives around what lights them up.
Kristina believes that each person is born with a unique set of gifts, talents, passions, and interests, and, through exploring and following them, one can consciously create a life full of fulfilment, joy, and abundance. Her purpose is to help people step onto a path that feels aligned and teach them how to use their mind as a tool to help them realise their definition of success."
