Have you ever been given the advice “just fake it ’til you make it?” It’s a common idea that is often looked at as a strategy for success. But in my world – faking it and being inauthentic is anything but success-driven. Beyond that, it leads to a dangerous spiral of imposter syndrome, self-doubt, insecurity, and the nagging feeling of not being good enough. But what if I told you that embracing your authentic self is a far more powerful path to step into your true confidence and fulfillment? Keep reading, because (hint, hint!)… it totally is!
The Downside of Faking It
Here’s the hard truth about “faking it ‘til you make it”… it can lead to enormous amounts of imposter syndrome, not feeling good enough, and the constant feeling of watching over your shoulder, just waiting to be exposed or called out as a fraud. It’s every woman’s worst nightmare, as we already feel the overwhelming need to prove ourselves and be something we’re not in order to gain acceptance and recognition from others. This is a vicious cycle that leaves us feeling stuck and insecure – which can be incredibly damaging over time.
The concept of “faking it ‘til you make it” is a band-aid solution that keeps us from addressing the underlying issue – the fact that our self-confidence and self-worth is lacking and we’re afraid to show up as our authentic selves.
Unlearning Toxic Narratives
To break free from the “fake it ’til you make it” mindset, we must unlearn the toxic narratives that we’ve been taught, that tell us we’re not enough as we are.
This means challenging societal expectations and retraining our brains to build radical self-trust as we overcome this conditioning that’s been put on us. When we do that, we can embrace a growth mindset and step into what’s fully possible for us… without apology, fear, or hiding who we really are and what we really want.
The Power of Celebration
One of the keys to embracing our authentic selves is to celebrate our wins, both big and small. When we take the time to acknowledge our achievements, without reservation, we reinforce our worthiness and train our brains to believe in our capabilities, our worth, our potential, and our power.
When you do this, you start to realize how WORTHY you are of everything – acknowledgement, praise, success, and anything you want out of life!
And no, it’s not training your brain to think you’re worthy because you’re pretending to be something or someone you’re not, but because you’re embracing who you truly are and stepping into your power as a woman.
Surrounding Yourself With Support
As you continue on your authenticity journey, surround yourself with uplifting and inspiring individuals who encourage authenticity and showing up as the “realest” version of you. You know what they say, you become who you surround yourself with, so stay in good company with other women who hold you to a higher standard and support you in rejecting the idea of “faking it ‘til you make it.” You need people in your corner to support you, encourage you, and hold you accountable to staying on this authentic path forward.
As much as it stinks, the criticism and societal pressures aren’t going to stop It’s all about how you choose to handle them and overcome them.
By creating a community and space for authenticity, where you don’t feel like you have to censor who you are, you’ll be allowed to thrive, without conforming to the pressures placed on you by society. You’ll feel supported in showing your true self as you unlock your full potential and inspire others to do the same.
Join The Unlearning And Empowerment Journey
If you’re ready to embrace your authentic self and reject the idea of “faking it ‘til you make it”, I invite you to join me on this journey to unlearning and stepping into your empowerment inside of The Unlearning Lab, my 10-week group coaching program designed to help you unlearn toxic narratives, build radical self-trust, and reclaim your life… for good!
Ditching societal norms and embracing your authentic self is a journey, but it’s so worth taking, and I hope we can take it together!
