As women, from an early age, we witness men being encouraged to be leaders, be confident, and exhibit strength. While this comes with its own downfalls for men, the effect it has on women is the exhausting feeling of imposter syndrome. 

No matter how qualified, strong, or intelligent a woman is, there is a good chance she has, at one point, not felt good enough. Multiply that feeling by 1000 when a woman is fired for reasons beyond her control. We are taught to be responsible, to fix things, but the reality of life is: not everything is our fault and not everything can be fixed. 

We Can Overcome

Here is the cold hard truth. Feeling unconfident or unsure of yourself does NOT make you an imposter. Imposters are people who know they are underqualified for the job or know nothing about the topic they’re speaking on. If that isn’t you, which it probably isn’t, then it’s time to free yourself. 

We have to work hard as women to be taken seriously by just about everyone. Let’s not undermine ourselves by being a person that doesn’t take us seriously too. Instead, we can lift each other up, take time to rid ourselves of negative thoughts, and believe in ourselves. This shift in mindset will not only affect us positively but impact our kids, friends, and workplace. 

Talk About It

In short, feeling inadequate is something every woman goes through. Talk about it. Talk with all the women in your life and pay attention to the way you feel when they downplay their accomplishments. Remember, the way you feel about them is the way you should feel about yourself. We are all deserving and incredibly amazing!

You are a leader, you are confident, and you are strong.

Julie  Fairhurst
Author, Women LIke Me
Women’s Coach, Real Estate Agent