Affirmations that help me refocus as an entrepreneur
We have about 6,000 thoughts every day.
In our productivity-driven culture, we rarely take the time to pause and reflect on what that really means.
What do your thoughts look like? Is your self-talk mostly negative? Do you tend to have a positive view of the world and the people around you?
Our thoughts extend into our communications which, in turn, influence our relationship with ourselves, with the people around us and with society in general. Words are powerful, they influence our identity, probably more than we even think, and I believe it!
I hope this article will provide you with some tools that I use on a daily basis when my brain slips into the negative. I like affirmations because they comfort me when I feel anxious or on edge (yes, that happens to me too)!
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On the impostor syndrome
All the business founders I talk to tell me they suffer from impostor syndrome.
As I was writing this article, I doubted I was even the right person to address the topic and share my thoughts. The reality is that imposter syndrome will always be present in our lives, and that's okay.
When I co-founded ergonofis with Sam, I'll admit I had no idea what I was doing.
I've made mistakes, but I've also had some great ideas. Throughout my career, I have had times when I was more productive and times when I was less productive. In my most difficult moments, it was my feeling of not being up to par that took over.
Know that you are not alone in feeling this way. Being an entrepreneur also means being afraid, being in doubt, but you can always choose to move forward despite these feelings.
Here are my favorite affirmations to use when I am feeling the impostor syndrome
"I trust myself to make good decisions."
"I don't have to be perfect to be effective."
"I am enough."
A shift in mindset on the impostor syndrome
I truly believe in moving away from that feeling. Instead of feeling like you don't measure up, why not be in learning mode 100% of the time? This mindset helps me a lot! I am curious by nature, so I prefer to focus on learning.
If you don't understand something, don't pretend you do and don't be defensive. Get into the habit of saying, "I don't have enough information on this topic to make an informed decision.
What matters is what you do next. Everyone starts somewhere, no one is born with all the knowledge in the world!
More on impostor syndrome
The cult of productivity
This is probably my Achilles heel. I am very ambitious by nature and like to have a thousand projects (most of the time, simultaneously).
Unfortunately, this can lead me to burn out and feel completely drained, both creatively and energetically.
Like most of us, my confidence and self-esteem are often tied to my productivity: have I checked everything off my to-do list? Redefining my relationship with productivity is an ongoing process, and I'm still learning to find the right balance.
Here are my favorite affirmations to use when I am feeling the impostor syndrome
"I can evolve, learn and grow even if I'm not always productive."
"Not all my passions need to become businesses or be lucrative."
"No one is going to die if I don't respond to this email immediately."
"If everything is urgent, nothing is urgent."
A shift in thinking about productivity
The irony is that taking breaks will likely improve your productivity.
Resting is a productive activity that is necessary for making informed decisions, staying healthy and being creative.
More on the cult of productivity
The power of curiosity
My curiosity is one of my greatest assets.
As an entrepreneur, if I'm doing something for the first time or if I see a gap in my knowledge, you can be sure I'll dive in head first to learn everything I can about it.
I love learning. Honestly, if I could get paid to learn, I would probably consider it!
If you are fearful of upcoming challenges or anxious about an upcoming promotion (with tons of new responsibilities), try repeating the affirmations below several times a day.
Here are my favorite affirmations to use when I am feeling the impostor syndrome
"I can evolve, learn and grow even if I'm not always productive."
"Not all my passions need to become businesses or be lucrative."
"No one is going to die if I don't respond to this email immediately."
"If everything is urgent, nothing is urgent."
A shift in mindset on curiosity
Approaching things with curiosity is a powerful tool for transforming your experience when faced with new challenges.
People tend to get defensive when confronted with a lack of knowledge; they think that others will see it as a lack of intelligence or a flaw.
This is not the case! Willingness to learn and curiosity are two of the greatest signs of intelligence.
More about curiosity
The failure
"Failure is not failure. Failure comes when you stay where you fell." - Socrates
Mistakes are normal, and you should make them. If you don't make mistakes, you are being too careful.
On the other hand, if you are making tons of mistakes, you may be moving too fast or you may need to take the time to perfect a particular area.
Our society, by its structure of education system and by the direct correlation it nourishes between failure and notions of intelligence, leaves little room for error and failure. But it is precisely by making mistakes that we learn. I always tell my teams: you have the right to make mistakes, and it's even important to make them!
"Only those who take the risk of failing spectacularly will succeed brilliantly." - Robert F. Kennedy
Here are my favorite affirmations to use when I am feeling the impostor syndrome
"Failure is part of the process."
"There's no shame in trying."
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
A shift in mindset about failure
Since when is trying wrong? Learning is at the heart of the human experience. The first step in getting rid of our negative view of failure is to understand that it is inevitable. It's part of the process, you have to keep going!
A change in vocabulary is also very helpful. You could replace the word failure with pivot, adjustment or even evolution.
"I didn't fail. I simply found 10,000 ways that didn't work." - Thomas A. Edison (I love this quote!)
More about failure
In this day and age and with social media, it's easy to think that everyone's life is perfect, but that's far from the case. No one has everything under control, and I think it's important to remember that.
Instead of focusing on perfection, try to look at your journey as a constant evolution. Between chaos and stability, between productive and less productive moments. In the end, you create your own balance!
xo
Kim