Train your brain to embrace vulnerability and uncertainty

When we feel uncertain about what we’re doing or where we’re going, we tend to feel more fraudulent than ever. By learning to sit in uncertainty, you can begin to let go of feelings of inadequacy.

It’s also important, she notes, to accept that being unsure doesn’t mean you aren’t worthy of being where you are – in fact, realising that you don’t always have all of the answers means that you’re mature, honest and, yes, worthy of being right where you are.

Audit yourself

“Auditing is not just for holidays,” Brenkley says. “It’s a practice essential for personal and professional growth.”

Take time to reflect on what you’ve been doing recently in your career. Recognising the nitty-gritty details of your actual day-to-day work can help you realise that you are doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. It can also help you pinpoint the areas that need improvement. This way, your feelings of inadequacy are no longer vague and all-consuming, but rather, they are productive and solvable.

Ask yourself:

Did I work on the things that matter most today?
Did I progress in a way that supports my vision, dream or goal?
Did I avoid distractions today?
Did I set my intentions/priorities for the day and achieve them?
Did I engage in a way which feels good and from a place of heart and soul?

Leave behind limiting beliefs

After you’ve learned to acknowledge what exactly makes you worthy, you can begin to break through the mental boundaries that have been holding you back.

“The fifth step but one of the most important steps in the PETAL model involves shedding limiting beliefs that hinder your progress,” Brenkley notes. “Challenge self-imposed boundaries and question assumptions. It is the single most effective thing you can do to make breakthroughs and achieve success. If you work on limiting beliefs, there is no internal conflict; you wouldn’t sabotage your own success because you believe in yourself and know that you are worth it. By replacing self-doubt with self-belief, you pave the way for genuine confidence and success.”

Want to overcome imposter syndrome? Here’s why you need to try the PETAL method