Do you limit your life for fear of being discovered as a fraud?

For a long time the life I led was limited. Not because of some disability or a lack of interest, but because I was afraid people in my professional life were going to find out I felt I didn’t belong there. I was always afraid somebody would find out I didn’t know what I was doing.

This of course was ridiculous! I was a successful project manager and consultant and as far as others around me could see I was good at what I did. The only one having a hard time seeing what my contributions to my own success were was me.

And so, I limited my life! I worked incredibly hard to stave of that moment where somebody would see me for the actor I thought I was. Until circumstances forced me to take a long, hard look at what I was doing. More importantly,

I asked myself two questions:

1) Did I want to go on like this for the rest of my working life? Of course not!!
2) Could there be something to it when so many people were telling me I was good at what I did? Very likely!

I decided to stop the negative self-talk and start exploring what it was others were seeing, but I not yet could. For me that also meant exploring what it was I really wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Related Post: 3 Things to Conquer Fear and Live Your Own Life

I left project management and consulting behind. I needed to be free and independent; to unclutter my mind and my life. Leaving the stress of consulting and management behind was the best thing I could do for myself.

Embarking on a career as a coach, helping people recognize their own part in their success, celebrate their triumphs and figure out what it is that makes their heart sing, was the second best thing.

And on those rare occasions I find myself limiting my life again because of fear,
I remember the oath I swore to myself: “I, Gerdi, hereby swear to abandon all fear and to trust in myself!”

It’s enough to start moving again. No more limits for me!!

In what way do you limit your life?

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Thank you for reading and adding your voice to the conversation.

As always…

Go dare greatly!