We have all experienced it at some point in our life. Feeling that we are not good enough, that we will be discovered or that we are out of our reach.

Damn impostor syndrome. It sure can hit hard, especially for us women. It’s so common that I included a question in my Cards for Uniqueness pack asking

“When have you ever felt or acted like an impostor?”

I find it fascinating to hear people’s responses to the question, particularly if they pull out the card during our podcast interview. No matter what your background or history is, you can always remember a time when you felt it most poignantly.

The truth is, it can happen to anyone at any time regardless of our experience, status, position or title. It can happen on a professional and even social level. You know the feeling, that inner knot, that inquisitive mind, it undermines our competence, ability and confidence And once it has started, it can be a slippery slope to go down.

So we want to identify it, call it, and stop it in its tracks when it tries to control it. Here are 3 ways to STOP imposter syndrome on your way and be more UP:

“I won’t unless I can do it perfectly.”

Stop being a perfectionist princess, she is one of the best friends of the impostor syndromes. This thought is very damaging to your self-esteem, also known as being yourself. I know what you’re thinking, but isn’t it important to do a good job? Of course it is, but setting excessively high goals and standards for yourself is sure to leave you feeling inadequate and an impostor when you fail to achieve the goal. You set yourself up for failure and then beat yourself up for not living up to it!

Tip: Stop trying to control everything princess. When you miss your ridiculous self-imposed brand on something, don’t accuse yourself of “not be cut” because you are the homework. No one can be perfect and doing a perfect job must be 100 percent of the time.

If you consistently believe that you could have done even better, begin to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments and take your mistakes in stride, seeing them as a natural part of the process. The truth is that there will never be the “perfect time” and your work will never be a perfect 10. The sooner you accept it and are more optimistic, the better off you will be.

“I was lucky”.

So you think you have luck on your side, huh? All time? Seriously.

Be more yourself woman. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, right? If you keep attributing your successes and achievements to luck, your imposter may start feeding you nonsense as if you were discovered and you will not be able to continue your success. Luck is when opportunity and preparation meet and I suppose you’ve been doing a lot of preparation, which requires competence and perseverance. Sure, luck can shine on us from time to time, but you must remember and acknowledge all that you have done to contribute to your own success. Bottoms Up!

“Oh, it was nothing really.”

Imposter syndrome sucks when it prevents you from seeing yourself with your own brilliance. Especially here in Australia where tall poppy syndrome is prevalent, people are so afraid of showing up themselves that they are more likely to downgrade and reduce their efforts to nothing. The problem is that the old impostor becomes strong every time you do this. Strengthen your neural pathways and their power over you. If you constantly hear yourself saying, “Oh, it was nothing. I’m sure anyone could have done it.” Gold “It wasn’t a big deal, really.” Then you know that you are falling in love with tall poppy disease. It’s time to be more UP – focus on doing the best you can and when you do and someone complements you, just say “Why thank you.” Indicate loud applause.

Get in and UP!

Isn’t it time you stopped playing small and let your inner impostor win? You’ve come too far not to start believing in yourself and worrying about what your inner voice is saying. Being higher is a decision. Decide to back yourself because you deserve it.