Overcoming Impostor Syndrome: Guide to Unleashing Your Entrepreneurial Power
Posted on January 23, 2024 by Angel Santos, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
Transform entrepreneurship from a hurdle to a sacred mission, enabling you to shape the world with your unique contribution.
What’s your dream?
Become a famous author? Travel the world and help people start their brands? Reach women who battle with their insecurities and let them know they are enough in God? Revolutionize the beauty industry and change the definition of beauty for the modern Christian woman? Monetize your podcast? Own salons in every state?
Is it big or small?
Does it intimidate you or excite you?
Most importantly, are you actively creating it?
Are you, on a weekly and daily basis, exercise your ability to create?
Are you aware of the power God gave us to create? To design and change the shape of our life?
In the first chapters of Genesis in the Old Testament, the order of God creating the earth and humanity is shared.
God then, our heavenly Father, is the most powerful Creator ever.
He created everything from light to night.
He created the birds and the trees.
He created the oceans and dry land.
He created us.
In fact, not only did He create us but we are made in Him image. That means we resemble and share a likeness with God.
We can think, we can make choices, and we can create!
The ability to think, choose, and create the life you desire and the vision God has given you is incredibly powerful if you acknowledge it.
Acknowledging it sheds light on the fact that we are not victims of life, instead we are participants in it.
As participants, we choose the effort we put in and how we approach it.
I have chosen, so like so many influential people before me, to maximize the opportunity God has given me to make a contribution to the world…and can I just be honest? If you are reading this, you are being called to choose it as well!
Overcoming imposter syndrome and doubts is pivotal in realizing your contribution to the world. Moses, faced with self-doubt, questioned his ability to lead the Israelites. Similarly, you may wrestle with insecurities that stem from lies—lies that manifest as obstacles, insecurities, and circumstances.
This, my dear, is your burning bush moment.
Moses and the Burning Bush
Genesis 3: 3 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro,[a] the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai,[b] the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
14 God replied to Moses, “I am who i am.[d] Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.”
4:1 But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”
4:10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”
15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do.16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. 17 And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”
In Genesis 3-4, God assigns Moses the task of contributing freedom to his people. Looking back on it, while Moses is revered highly by God as being used to free a nation of slaves, can you imagine what it was like to receive news of your assignment?
Here he was, living in a quiet area, with friends and family… and yet now he is being tasked with creating this major contribution to the world.
Yet God knew what Moses was capable of.
And you are no different.
Moses’s assignment was to help the Israelites who were slaves… your contribution might be to help children who struggle with obesity, men who struggle with maintaining a healthy marriage or women who struggle with a hormonal imbalance.
Your contribution is special because God created you to do it!
Take for instance myself.
There is no other Christian Business & Mindset Coach in the world like me, and its not because of the training or certifications I have, because my father is a Pastor, or because of how much money I have made.
It’s because God only made one of me.
I am the one who was born on July 22, 1987, after being in my mother’s belly for 10 months, and had doctor’s tell my parents not to name me because I wouldn’t live past a few weeks. I am the one who has an entire church praying for me and who God chose to heal. I am the living miracle who was assigned by God to testify of His Goodness and share that nothing is impossible with God and mean it because it is my actual life experience.
So when I coach, and help clients have breakthroughs, it’s not from a quote I read in a book, it’s from my life.
You are no different.
You have a unique contribution in the world to make that you have not just been chosen for, but created for.
The question is will you accept?
You might have questions, you might have doubts.
Like Moses, you can work through those if you are willing to. If you choose you. No one can make that decision for you but you!
What stops you from creating the life and business vision you desire?
Lies
Put short and sweet: Lies!
Lies are what stop you from accepting who already are!
Lies are what limit you.
Lies are what keep you playing small.
Lies are what cause the insecurities.
Lies are what cause imposter syndrome.
Lies from the devil. Lies others tell. Lies we tell ourselves.
We don’t realize they are lies because they look different.
There a 3 categories they present themselves in:
1 – Obstacles
2 – Insecurities
3 – Circumstance
Obstacles
Obstacles are what happen when you’re working on creating the vision God has given you and you run into a problem.
In business, this can look like you do start promoting your business and even though you’ve promoted your workshop or program every day for a month, no one has signed up or even shown interest.
The obstacle of “no sign-ups” is just that, an obstacle, something that is happening and can be overcome.
To overcome obstacles, we create ways around and through it.
Yet, instead of acknowledging your power to overcome an obstacle, you may start believing the lie that “it can’t be overcome”, “it’s impossible to overcome”, or “this won’t work for me”.
If any of those thoughts sound familiar, and I say this with love, you have been letting the lie of obstacles stop you.
Insecurities
Insecurities are the lies that arrive masked as flaws or internal obstacles.
It presents itself as doubts about your capabilities.
“I’m not good enough”
“I’m not the right size"
“I’m don’t have the right look”
“I’m not smart enough”
“I need more training”
“I’m not good at public speaking”
“I don’t like the way I look on camera”
“I don’t like the way I sound”
Etc.
The dictionary defines insecurity as a lack of confidence or assurance.
Now understand, I am not saying that your insecurity isn’t really. You may feel or believe your insecurity. Moses believed his was real as he was bold enough to bring it up to God.
The lie is that your insecurity is powerful enough to stop you from fulfilling your God-given assignment.
It is not.
Like Moses with his speech.
Like me with my health and energy.
Your insecurity may at times make it feel harder, but it can’t stop you!
Circumstances
Circumstances are the very real and present things in your life.
You may have a health condition.
You may have a small budget.
You may not have a formal education.
You may not have a certification.
All of these are real things. The lie is that your circumstances can stop you from building the vision God has assigned you.
I was born with Sickle cell anemia and in 2019, after going to the emergency room at 2am in the morning, I found out I also have Endometriosis.
These are two very real health conditions that both affect your energy levels and can consist of debilitating pain.
All of that is real.
Yet, a real circumstance, yours or mine, does not limit what God can do.
In, Matthew 19:26, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
In Matthew 17:20, Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.023 Nothing will be impossible for you.
Our past and present circumstances can make it feel like progress is impossible, but its not.
There are some circumstances that are outside of our control, but each breath we take is an opportunity given by God to change them.
Choosing to believe the truth
All three of these categories point back to the initial lie that happened in the Old Testament between Adam and Eve and the serpent. The serpent lied to Eve, and said, as summarized by Minister Gonzalez, “Don’t believe God”.
When you think about it, you realize every obstacle, insecurity, and circumstance that presents itself in your life and threatens to disturb your happiness and peace are all an extension of that lie that was told to Eve in the garden of Eden.
Believing that lie led to sin entering the world and death.
God sent his son Jesus to restore the connection that broken when sin entered the world. As believers who’s connection to God has been restored, we can make a different choice.
We can choose to call out the devil for whatever lie he tries to present us and choose the truth! Choose life! Choose to let our visions be birthed into world by believing every word God has spoken (instead of letting them die by believing the enemy’s lies).
How to Let Go of the Limiting Beliefs and Lies that Have Been Holding You Back
The first way is to be open to the truth. Open your eyes, open your ears, open your mind, and most importantly open your heart.
The second is to become unavailable for the lie. Think of a severe food or medicine allergy. You won’t even think about eating the food because you know the consequences. When you approach the lies that way, things will change instantly.
The third, and most important of them all are scriptures. Find scriptures, chapters, and passages that support the truths you will be focusing on and that disprove the lies you are letting go.
The fourth is to use tools to reinforce your new way of living. You can utilize affirmations, community, coaching and mentorship.
Affirmations
Affirmations are great short reminders of the truth. One affirmation God gave me is “I am so much stronger than I think”. This helped me to remember that even in my weakest (emotionally and physically) moments, I am still strong in Him and capable of more than I can imagine.
The only I use daily is I am only available for success. I am only available for thoughts that align with God’s unique purpose for my life.
While some people push adopting their affirmations, It’s been my experience that creating your own is more effective as you are familiar with the areas you’ve been believing lies and need to replace with the truth!
I show you how to create your own affirmations in my Success Code Series which you can access here.
Community
The friends and family you have may not be ready for change. They may be comfortable accepting the limitations that believing lies can put on you. That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with new people who are ready to accept the truth and committed to building the vision that God has given them.
Coaching & Mentorship
When you go to a destination you’ve never been to before, having a map or guide can be the difference between you reaching the destination you desire or giving up before you do. Having a coach or mentor on your journey will help you shed the lies and thoughts you have allowed to enter and dwell in your mind for so long and operate from a place of power and authority. One powerful place to receive this type of support is my Successful Christian CEO program.
In overcoming imposter syndrome and embracing your unique contribution, you unleash the power to create a life aligned with God’s purpose. It’s time to step into your burning bush moment and let your vision flourish. Will you accept the call?