One of the most common limiting beliefs for business owners is imposter syndrome. It is that nagging self-doubt that chips away at your confidence, slows your performance and drains your motivation.
Imposter syndrome is that persistent feeling of being a fraud, despite clear evidence of your success. It’s when you think your achievements are down to luck, not your skills or hard work, and you constantly fear being “found out.” This can be incredibly draining and hold you back from reaching your true potential.
One of my favorite exercises for overcoming this limiting belief is the 100 Accomplishments exercise.
It might sound a bit daunting at first, but trust me, the benefits are well worth it. Let me explain how this exercise can transform your mindset and supercharge your confidence.
When you think back over your life, you have had thousands, if not millions of accomplishments. For some people, just getting out of bed every day is a major accomplishment!
Taking time to acknowledge and reflect on your your successes, helps you start building a more positive self-image.
Here’s how the 100 Accomplishments exercise can help you be more successful:
- Reality Check: Listing your accomplishments gives you a reality check. It’s hard to argue with a list of concrete successes, which helps counteract that negative self-talk.
- Positive Reinforcement: Celebrating your achievements, big or small, reinforces the idea that you are capable and competent. This boosts your self-esteem and confidence.
- Spotting Patterns: As you create your list, you’ll start to notice patterns. These patterns can highlight your strengths and unique skills, giving you a clearer sense of your capabilities.
- Shift in Focus: By focusing on what you’ve achieved rather than what you haven’t, you naturally shift your mindset to a more positive and empowering perspective.
Here is all you need to do to complete this simple exercise.
It may sound a bit overwhelming at first but consider this…you have had WAY more than 100 accomplishments over your lifetime! This exercise simply helps you pull them out from your subconscious and gets them in front of you so you can really see the enormity of success you have had up until now.
Set Aside Time: Find a quiet, comfortable spot and set aside some dedicated time for this exercise.
PRO TIP: Hand write out your accomplishments in a journal or notebook. When you hand write you use both the logical and creative sides of your brain. When you type, you are only using the logical side.
- Start Small: Begin with recent achievements and work your way back. What did you accomplish yesterday in your work or personal life? Even small wins that made you feel good.
- Be Specific: Instead of vague statements, get specific. For example, instead of writing “Completed my marketing tasks.”, say “I created posts for each of my social media platforms and wrote a blog for my website.”
- Include All Areas of Life: Don’t limit yourself to work-related accomplishments. Include your personal stuff. Did you exercise? Eat healthy food? Make it for your kids play? Volunteer for a local charity?
- Keep It Handy: Once your list is done, keep it somewhere you can easily access it. As new things come to mind (and they will!) add them to your list. Read it any time you need a confidence boost or feel self-doubt creeping in.
Recognizing your achievements will help you see challenges as opportunities to grow, rather than threats to your self-worth.
Understanding your strengths and accomplishments will promote a greater self-awareness, which is key to your personal and professional development.
Reflecting on past successes reminds you of your ability to overcome obstacles which empowers you when you face future challenges.
When you regularly read over your list, that will continue to grow, you will notice a major mindset shift that will help you remove any self-doubt. You prove to yourself and your mind that you can do this! You are not an imposter!
So, take the time to reflect, write, and celebrate your journey—you’ve earned it.
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