Any overly ambitious person can sometimes beat themselves into thinking that they are not doing enough or have self-limiting or negative beliefs about themselves. In many cases, systematic beliefs of unworthiness can also be impacted by one’s culture or upbringing.
Sometimes, the worst feeling you might ever have to admit is that you are your own worst critic. Yet, if you hold on to these self-limiting thoughts and beliefs for too long, they might in one way or another stifle your personal growth and that of your brand.
Admittedly, for many Black women, the feelings of unworthiness can stem from past trauma or stigma, which is deeply rooted in Black societies or collective consciousness. In many cases, social media has given Black women more reasons to vilify and downgrade themselves, which makes them compare themselves and their brands with others, often judging their own competency and self-worth based on the opinions and words of other people.
Left unchecked, these self-limiting beliefs can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life, causing you to struggle to establish a name for yourself and start a business. So, what are these self-limiting beliefs, and how can you overcome them? Consider a few below.
Having Superwoman Complex
In many Black societies, young girls have grown up seeing their mothers juggling several tasks all at once. Daughters watched their moms do literally everything: cooking, cleaning, raising children, tending to household chores, and in some cases, working secularly. Given this stereotypical notion that a woman must and can do everything, has caused a new generation of Black women to fall into the trap of thinking that they too must beat all odds and do everything in their brand or business alone without help.
Nevertheless, this thinking isn’t only faulty, it’s also dangerous, as it can easily lead to burnout and stifle your creativity. When you allow others to help you out in any capacity, especially a qualified professional, you free up your time and energy for more important tasks or other tasks that are relevant to the growth of your business. This could be working on your first book, for example, or developing a new program, or speaking at a local conference. In essence, these activities can also play a crucial role in growing your brand or business.
Being A Perfectionist
Believe it or not, no matter how hard you try, you cannot do everything right; after all, we are born imperfect. Being a perfectionist is both a trap and a snare, that’s because perfectionism is a myth that many fall prey to. The key is to show up in your own true self and admit that things will go wrong. When you do that, people will feel more inclined to interact with you; after all, people connect with imperfect, real people.
One of the best ways to overcome the myth of perfectionism is to choose excellence over perfection. In doing so, you promise yourself to be better and do your best to build your brand and platform to the best of your ability, and when something goes wrong, you won’t beat yourself up for it; instead, you will vow never to do it again. Bear in mind that outcomes and circumstances don’t determine your personal worth and expertise.
Buying Into Imposter Syndrome
Put simply, imposter syndrome is a feeling that’s defined as doubting your own abilities and self-worth. The rise of reality business shows like Shark Tank and social media has all given rise to that feeling, which makes many Black women entrepreneurs believe that they are not worth much. Giving in to imposter syndrome stifles your growth. Celebrating your success and small wins, on the other hand, gives you ownership of your own joy without comparing yourself to others. The key is to let others have their success and you have yours without creating comparisons.
Now that we have discussed the reasons why many Black women struggle to build their personal brand, the choice is yours to make: either give in to failure or take ownership of your uniqueness by becoming bold, confident, and authentic to attract more business opportunities.
David Messiha| Staff Writer