Spiritual Business Hotline: What To Do When Imposter Syndrome Is Holding You Back

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If imposter syndrome is holding you back, this is for you.

It is one of the most common things I see come up for spiritual business owners and it costs people more than they realise – not pitching for opportunities, undercharging for their services, shying away from selling, chasing qualification after qualification instead of just focusing on building their business.

All because of that little voice inside that says, “I'm not good enough” or “smart enough” or “whatever enough.”

So let's actually look at what “imposter syndrome” actually is, why it's happening, and what to do about it.

What Imposter Syndrome Actually Is (And Why It's Not Your Fault)

The word imposter says it all: you're feeling like you are somewhere you shouldn't be, that you’re not “good enough” to be there, and, this is the kicker, that someone is somehow going to find out and call you on it.

So where does this feeling come from?

I honestly think the patriarchy has a lot to answer for here. Because I just don't see a lot of men out there saying they’re struggling with “imposter syndrome.” But almost every woman you meet will have some version of it in her story.

As women, we are conditioned in this patriarchal, capitalistic society to see ourselves as “not enough.” To feel like we have to prove our worth before we're allowed to take up space or put ourselves forward for opportunities.

And the research backs it up.

We know, for example, that men are far more likely to go for a job they feel maybe 60-70% qualified for, while women want to feel absolutely certain that they can do a job before they'll even put their hand up. 

And I recently came across research showing two identical CVs being assessed differently based on gender alone – the woman who'd used AI to write hers was assumed to be “incompetent,” while the man was seen as someone who just “needed a little help pulling things together.”

The double standard is real. It’s not just an internalised thing. The standards women are held to are, in actual fact, different. And it shows up in how we feel about ourselves, including this feeling of “imposter syndrome.”

How Imposter Syndrome Shows Up for Spiritual Business Owners

So what does it look like in practice?

It can look like always chasing the next qualification – even when you are already more than qualified.

I see this again and again with spiritual business owners. They already have the training, the skills, the experience. And yet they are still delaying building their business because they think they need something more.

Think about what that's actually costing you. The clients you're not helping. The income you're not earning. The impact you're not having. All because you think you need one more certificate before you're allowed to go all in.

It can also look like not pitching yourself for opportunities. Not saying yes to the things that would move you forward. Not putting yourself in the rooms that would help you most.

It can look like undercharging and over-delivering. Discounting your prices. Avoiding the sales conversation because you've already assumed the answer is no.

The Mindset Shift That Actually Helps

So what can you do about?

Honestly, I want you to ask yourself: what would a mediocre white man do in this situation?

I know, I know. But hear me out.

The audacity of a mediocre white man – despite his mediocrity – is genuinely what we should be aiming for. 

He is not sitting around wondering if he's qualified enough. He is not second-guessing his prices or deciding not to pitch himself. He's just doing the thing, with full belief in himself, because that is how he has been wired.

What would you honestly do if you had the audacity of a mediocre white man?

Ground Back Into Your Power

Now we want his audacity – but let's also remember: you are not in any way mediocre.

You have incredible medicine and magic to share. You have knowledge, wisdom, and experience. 

The reason you are experiencing imposter syndrome in the first place is because you care. You have integrity. You want to do good work. That is actually a really good thing.

Your imposter syndrome is misplaced. You are not an imposter. You are worthy of taking up space.

So ground back into the truth of how incredible you are. Ground back into why you do what you do. Because the impact you can have on the people you work with is worth so much more than that little voice in the back of your head.

A Three-Step Process for Moving Through Imposter Syndrome in the Moment

When that inner critic voice gets loud, here's my three-step process…

Step 1: Catch It. Notice the thought as it happens. You can't change anything without first having awareness, so practice catching yourself in the moment when the thought arises.

Step 2: Witness It. Instead of believing the thought, step outside of it. Instead of "I'm not good enough" – it becomes "I'm noticing I'm having a thought right now that I'm not good enough." You're adding distance between yourself and the “imposter syndrome” thought. Remember not every thought you have is true.

Step 3: Challenge It. This is where it’s really helpful to have some evidence ready. Go back to your client testimonials. Look at the DMs from clients who've had incredible experiences with you. Build yourself an evidence folder – a folder on your phone with screenshots of that feedback. That is what you’ll use to challenge the imposter syndrome in the moment. That is what you hold up and say: actually, look at this. Look at what I've done. Look at the difference I've made.

You are not going to get rid of imposter syndrome overnight. But you get better at having the conversation with yourself. You get better at catching those thoughts, witnessing them, and challenging them so they're not derailing you.

What Helped Me Move Through Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome used to be my number one mindset block. That feeling of not being good enough – and the fear that people would eventually realise it. I remember that feeling vividly, particularly when I went all in on business coaching six years ago and it felt wildly out of my comfort zone (even though I’d already been successfully doing this work for years).

Six years on and I can honestly say I don't really experience it anymore.

And that has come from experience. Ten years in business. Six years fully committed to business coaching and not letting imposter syndrome hold me back. A plethora of client testimonials and feedback from clients who have kept returning. The evidence was there, and I let myself use it.

It doesn't mean I don't feel fear. It doesn't mean I don't have moments of self-doubt. But I no longer feel like an imposter. I know my place in this space. I know I am really good at the work that I do. And that has come from time in the game, from the evidence I’ve gathered, and from years of having that mindset conversation with myself.

It is possible. I promise you.

It is time in the game. It is continual mindset work. It is continuing to show up for yourself and your business no matter what wobbles come up along the way.

And having support in your corner makes a huge difference here. This is a big part of the work I do with my clients inside the Spiritual Business Mistressmind – helping you catch those thought patterns, challenge them, and reminding you of your power when you forget. 

Make sure you have someone in your corner who you can have these conversations with, someone who gets it and can gently remind you of your power when you wobble.

Because you are worthy of taking up space. You are worthy of sharing your magic and medicine with the world. You are worthy of building a business that lights you up and is the full embodiment of your mission and vision.