Tag: mental-health

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Steps to Career Confidence

by natkp11, posted in Career coaching, Coaching Tips

Imposter syndrome—it’s that nagging feeling that tells us we don’t belong, that we’re not good enough. As someone who’s navigated career changes from employment coaching to life coaching, I’ve faced it head-on. In the past I would skip past applying for jobs that I now realise I would have been able to do with my eyes closed, because I didn’t think I could do them or had the right experience. So I’ve written this to help you the reader over come those feelings that might be holding you back from applying for your dream job.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

First things first, acknowledge the elephant in the room. It’s normal to feel like an imposter when stepping into new territory. Recognize these feelings but don’t let them define you. I remember feeling very out of place, like I wasn’t deserving of the role of employment coach. I felt that they had somehow misread my CV, that I had tricked them at the interview and that was the only reason they hired me. Acknowledge your feelings and release the negative ones, understanding that they’re part of the journey.

Reflect on Your Achievements

Take a moment to reflect on your journey. List your skills and accomplishments. Remember, you’ve come this far for a reason. Your experiences are valuable and transferable. In my 20s, I had little confidence. I went on a course to build my confidence and learned to accept and be comfortable with my achievements. This realization helped me understand that my experiences and skills are the reasons I am where I am today, setting the foundation for my future growth.

Embrace Continuous Learning

Learning is a lifelong journey. Dedicate time to upskill and gain knowledge in your new field. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel. Over the past ten years, I’ve devoted myself to continuous professional development (CPD). Whether it’s a short course, reading self-help books, attending webinars, or gaining another qualifications, I’ve always sought to expand my knowledge and skills. When I first left school, I had no idea where I wanted to be. It took a lot of soul-searching to discover my passion for life coaching. Continuous learning was key to building my confidence and competence.

Seek Support and Mentorship

You’re not alone. Seek support from mentors, peers, or professional networks. Sharing your experiences can be incredibly validating and help you realize you’re not alone in feeling this way. When I first started, the support from mentors and peers was invaluable. They helped me navigate the new landscape and reassured me that my feelings were normal.

Reframe Your Mindset

Shift your perspective. View new opportunities as learning experiences. Mistakes aren’t proof of incompetence; they’re stepping stones to growth. Embrace them. It took me some time to work on my emotional intelligence. I had a very fixed mindset when I was younger. By working on my growth mindset ( see How to Master Accountability for Personal Growth), it helped me to overcome many obstacles in my mind that didn’t exist in reality. In my journey, reframing my mindset was crucial. Viewing each challenge as an opportunity to learn allowed me to grow and build resilience.

Set Realistic Goals with SMART

Break down your larger career goals into manageable steps. Celebrate small victories along the way. Progress is progress, no matter how small. I set realistic goals by writing down what worked for me and my family. Breaking it down into achievable steps made the transition smoother. One incredibly effective tool is the SMART framework for goal setting. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

  • Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve. Instead of saying, “I want to improve my career,” say, “I want to become a certified life coach.”
  • Measurable: Determine how you will measure your progress. For example, “I will complete a life coaching certification course and obtain my certification.”
  • Achievable: Set goals that are realistic and attainable. Consider your resources and constraints. “I will dedicate two hours every evening to studying for my certification.”
  • Relevant: Ensure your goal aligns with your broader objectives. “Becoming a certified life coach aligns with my passion for helping others and my long-term career aspirations.”
  • Time-bound: Set a deadline to achieve your goal. “I will complete my certification within six months.”

Using the SMART framework can help you stay focused, track your progress, and achieve your goals more effectively.

Visualize Success

Visualization can be a powerful tool. Picture yourself succeeding in your new role. But don’t just see it as a future goal; feel that moment like you are already living it. Imagine the confidence, the accomplishments, the reality of your success. I often visualized myself succeeding, living that moment as if it were happening now. This approach boosted my confidence and kept me focused on my goals.

Embrace Positive Feedback

Don’t shy away from feedback. Constructive criticism from colleagues and superiors can help you improve and confirm your strengths. It’s a tool for growth, not a reflection of your worth. No matter how bad the feedback might seem, use a positive mindset to say, “Ok, let’s see where I can make this better.” In my own experience, a toxic friendship where I was constantly criticized became my awakening for emotional growth. Although that friendship has now ended, I am grateful for the lessons it taught me and the ability to improve myself. Embracing feedback, whether good or bad, in a positive way has been instrumental in my journey.

Prioritize Self-Care

Taking care of your mental and physical health is crucial. Incorporate activities that relax and rejuvenate you. For me, self-care is taking time out for myself, be it in the form of a walk, my exercise regime, or something as simple as an early night. I like to think of it as perching myself on a charging platform. This platform takes many different forms and can last for whatever length of time, but ultimately, the goal of feeling better and being able to pick myself up and regroup my thoughts is achieved. During my transition into a new career, prioritizing self-care was essential. It helped me manage stress and stay balanced.

Be Authentic

Authenticity is your superpower. Be yourself, from the application process, to interview, right through to the day you start and beyond. Genuine connections, reduce feelings of being a fraud and foster a supportive environment. Throughout my journey, staying authentic has been my guiding principle. It’s helped me build genuine connections and stay true to my values.

“I don’t know whether every author feels it, but I think quite a lot do — that I am pretending to be
something I am not, because, even nowadays, I do not quite feel as though I am an author.”
—Agatha Christie

Overcoming imposter syndrome is a journey of recognizing your worth, building confidence, and finding support. Every step forward is a victory. If you’re struggling with imposter syndrome or navigating a career change, know that you’re not alone. I’ve been there, and I’m here to help. Reach out to me for personalized career coaching, and let’s unlock your full potential together.

I’d love to hear from you. Share your own experiences or insights related to imposter syndrome in the comments below.

How I Transformed Trauma into Strength: A Personal Story

by natkp11, posted in personal journey

I have lived a very colourful life, peppered with both good and bad scenarios. With every experience, I have learned something new, found ways to navigate difficult situations and pull through. I have built strength out of trauma and turned my life around. I am mentally strong and focused now, but that wasn’t always the case.

Five years ago I wasn’t the person I wanted to be.


“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling


It’s funny how the above quote can seem so far from the truth when we hit rock bottom. We are dragged to the point of desperation, clinging on to the last threads of the very thing that is destroying us thinking that it is the only way forward, afraid of completely letting go in fear of landing with a huge thud and staying that way. But remaining stagnated in situations that are not good for us is far worse than actually letting go and allowing the storm to pass.

This quote became my inspiration, my motto, in a strange way. But it also gave me reassurance that I could change things.

This time five years ago, I couldn’t even see a way out of the dire situation I was in and the string of events that led me to make what felt like at the time, one of the worst decisions I had to make in my entire life. I literally hit rock bottom and couldn’t see a way out of it.
Six months I felt this way, but by the sixth month, I decided to do something about it. Too long I had allowed my life to be controlled and very often went against my intuition. This lack of trust in myself led me into an internal conflict with my soul. For what was best for my children and me. I knew I needed to make a change when at my lowest point, the thought of ending my life seemed like the only solution.

But for my children’s sake, I chose not to leave them traumatized by my own self-pity party and decided to be the change that they needed to see. To step up and be a strong role model to them.

I knew I needed to start living my life authentically and start setting good examples for my children.

It became clear that to move forward, I first needed to accept responsibility for my actions, and learn from my mistakes. I had heaps of healing to do, whilst staying present and strong for my kids. I chose not to blame those who had negatively influenced my life and forgave them. It was, after all, my decision to allow my life choices to be influenced by them.

So, with little more than a small suitcase and a backpack, my boys and I returned to the UK to build a new life. I needed to be with all my children, not just half of them.

The pandemic provided an unlikely and welcome leaning post to my healing as the pressure of immediately finding work was nulled thanks to the lockdowns. I chose to use this time to focus on my children during the day and my wellbeing at night.

I started practicing yoga again and exercise in the form of nature and beach walks were the highlight of our days. Making macramé bracelets and playing my guitar regularly, writing songs. It was a time of growth, healing, nurture and learning.


Today I feel content. Today I feel nurtured. Today I feel happy. I’m in love with life and enjoy each new day and the adventures it brings. In the last five years I have achieved far more than I ever though possible! I am fully present for my children but find balance by being able to nourish my soul with the things that are in tune with who I am.

I am becoming the person I always wanted to be, living my truth. No longer a watered-down version hiding behind the main character in the shadows, hidden from the world. I live my life full of smiles and kindness. I don’t allow negativity to penetrate my soul. I acknowledge it and look for ways to overcome obstacles. I am a fighter who fights with peaceful means.

I can freely help others the way I want to without being told that I shouldn’t. I speak my mind and stand strong to my beliefs, without forcing my views on others or making them feel bad for having differing opinions to mine. I feel I have gained a new sense of strength and independence.

I don’t claim to be perfect and know that life is one big journey of self-discovery and finding ways to improve. I have learned to embrace my differences and no longer care about the judgment of others.

In amongst all these positive emotions, the odd anxiety or stress-induced emotions have surfaced but on a scale of 10, they have been a 1 or 2. I developed the tools to be able to navigate out of holes with ease, rather than a shovel that could only dig down.

When we allow our feelings to get the better of us it can wear us down, creating a darkness that overshadows even the happy moments in our lives. It penetrates so deep filling any space and stifling the growth of happiness.

Letting go allows us to live as authentically as we can, to analyze and learn. To live in a way that we want to without harming others. I am fully embracing who I am becoming and my heart and soul are starting to feel complete.

Learning to let go has been a huge help in reducing the suffering from negative feelings. The shackles are off and my soul is free. I am becoming a person who trusts her intuition, who lives authentically, and believes in the magic of our world. No longer afraid or indecisive and aiming to be mindful in all I do. I have been dedicated to improving my emotional intelligence and living more authentically.

I have always loved helping others and this personal growth became the foundation of my passion for helping others achieve their own life goals.

As an employment coach, I supported individuals transitioning back into work after the pandemic, delivering workshops on mental health, well-being, and managing anxiety during life’s changes.

Now, I offer personalized life coaching services that are designed to help you make lasting changes in your life.

I’m here to help you get organized, stay motivated, and plan for the lifestyle you deserve.

Together, we’ll develop practical strategies and personalized steps to implement meaningful changes and improve your mental well-being. Whether you seek guidance on personal growth or support through life’s challenges, I’m here for you.

If you’re ready to make a positive change, I’d love to hear from you! Simply reach out via message on Instagram or click the button below, and let’s start this journey together.

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