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beautiful Black woman working on a laptop Confident introvert Confidence and power Anxiety and confidence Zero self esteem Zero confidence Your confidence Ways to gain confidence Unstoppable confidence To be more confident The power of self confidence The power of confidence The confidence coach Strong self confidence Self worth and self esteem Self worth Self esteem goals Self esteem coach Self confidence in leadership Self confidence hypnosis Self confidence coach Professional confidence Hypnosis for self esteem Hypnotherapy for confidence Having self confidence Get more confidence Confidence coach near me

Career Tips

Is Doubt Key Reason Why You Can’t Move Forward in Your Career?

September 23, 2022

Beautiful Black woman working on a laptop Career coach doubt confidence self esteem self confidence self worth be confident self esteem is building confidence boost confidence career strategy resilience resiliency resilience meaning emotional intelligence Impostor syndrome Imposter syndrome Imposter syndrome definitionConfident introvert Confidence and power Anxiety and confidence Zero self esteem Zero confidence Your confidence Ways to gain confidence Unstoppable confidence To be more confident The power of self confidence The power of confidence The confidence coach Strong self confidence Self worth and self esteem Self worth Self esteem goals Self esteem coach Self confidence in leadership Self confidence hypnosis Self confidence coach Professional confidence Hypnosis for self esteem Hypnotherapy for confidence Having self confidence Get more confidence Confidence coach near me

I’m going to be honest with you: I’ve never been much of a risk-taker. I had way too much doubt. And I actually said I NEVER wanted to be an entrepreneur. And there were plenty of times when my risk-averse personality kept me stuck in a job that didn’t make me happy. It wasn’t until I realized that the reason why I couldn’t move forward was because of anxiety that things started changing for me and now I’m changing that for other people too!

 

 

You have doubt, and you don’t think you deserve better.  You don’t feel like you deserve…

a promotion.

to make more money.

to move up to a better job or career.

that director, manager, executive position

You feel like you’ve already accomplished so much, where do you go from here?

You’re doing great. You’ve got things on your resume and in your portfolio that you’re proud of, but it’s time for more. You want to do something different, better than what you did before.

But the problem is that you don’t know where to start or how to push yourself forward. And doubt starts to creep.

The answer is simple:

Find out where your skills could be used in new ways and challenge yourself with projects that stretch them beyond their comfort zone. But what happens when there is doubt?

As successful as you are, you have self-doubt.

You’re stuck because there’s a part of you that doesn’t believe that you deserve better. Sometimes you work at organizations that believe You are lucky to be there working for them, so stay in your place. And that just cosigns with the doubt you’re already feeling.

It doesn’t matter what your job title is or how much money you make you could be the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company. As long as there is lingering doubt in your mind about whether or not you are worthy of moving on to something bigger and better, then it will be difficult or impossible for anything else to happen.

Which results in you becoming stuck, afraid, or unable to move forward.

You don’t feel like you’re good at anything.

You don’t feel like you are good at your job, career, or life. The reason for this is that sometimes we compare ourselves to others and find ourselves lacking in comparison. Here’s the thing, all day and twice on Sunday comparison is a dream killer! It leads you to really doubt yourself. And, comparison causes self-esteem to decrease.

But what if I told you that what makes you unique is also what makes you valuable? This is especially true in the world of work, where employers often value and reward diversity.

Maybe this is you…

You’re afraid of failing.

Fear of failure is a real problem, and it can keep you from moving forward in your career. But fear is natural, and you’re not alone if this is what has been holding you back. In fact, it’s completely normal to have fears about what might happen if you take a risk or go after something new. But it doesn’t mean that those fears should hold us back indefinitely!

Or this is you…

Success scares you.

You’ve been working hard, and you’re getting closer to achieving your goals. You want what’s best for yourself and your family and that includes success. But there’s just one problem: success scares you.

As a general rule, most people don’t like change; they prefer stability over risk-taking. The thought of going after something big can be terrifying because it involves risk of failure as well as success. And failure is often seen as something negative or even shameful by society at large.

So if you feel doubt and fear around moving forward in your career or life in general, there’s no need to feel ashamed or guilty about it! You’re not alone.

Lets face it. You can have a fear of failure or success and they are both equally detrimental to growth because they keep us from taking risks and seeking out new opportunities. And when we don’t take risks, our potential for growth ceases to exist.

This fear leads to the one key reason why you cant seem to move forward in your career.

Recognizing the anxiety freeze mode

Beautiful woman starting at computer screen Career coach confidence self esteem self confidence self worth be confident self esteem is building confidence boost confidence career strategy resilience resiliency resilience meaning emotional intelligence Impostor syndrome Imposter syndrome Imposter syndrome definition doubt

You may not recognize that you are in freeze response mode. Some symptoms include:

  • feeling stuck
  • don’t know why you’re stuck
  • afraid to move forward because of what might happen if you do
  • feeling overwhelmed

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry you’re not alone! The freeze response of anxiety can feel exhausting.

We’ve heard the term “deer caught in headlights”. The deer freezes as a last resort in nature. Because many predators don’t like dead prey. So, freezing, falling down motionless works to make some predators uninterested. When the predator loses interest, the prey can “come back to life” and live free to carry on and live for another day.

Freeze response for humans doesn’t quite give us the same results!

Freeze response can feel like:

  • overwhelm and unable to make a decision.
  • knowing all the steps, but you’re able to take any of them.
  • knowing you’re not appreciated or valued where you are; but feel hopelessly stuck or even ambivalent about moving forward.
  • being disrespected, being dismissed, seeing others get promotions, and feeling too afraid to move on.
  • it may look like perfectionism, and when you cant achieve perfection (well because nobody can) you then verify that you can’t possibly move on to another job, because you haven’t perfected this one. And you feel stuck. And doubt increases.
  • your mind going blank.
  • fatigued and exhaustion, and you haven’t really done a lot to feel that way
  • standing still, or even like you have disassociated, like you are watching yourself feel stuck, but cant seem to fix it. Finally,
  • maybe you just feel numb.

Unfortunately for humans, life doesn’t just fix itself and carry on because were in freeze mode

Sometimes the hole we dig through inaction and staying at jobs too long gets larger and larger. And we can’t just shake it off and wake up to find that life is exactly where we need it be. I had a client who was stuck in the same job, same boss over for 15 years! Nothing was fixed until she shifted out of freeze response with our coaching session. Then she was able to take clear and focused action. And changed jobs…

…landing a VP role.

V.I.P. Career Services

This is why my VIP Career Services include doing more than just helping you get that next position. Although I do coach you to snag that new position! It’s also about doing more than coaching you on freeze response symptoms such as: blank mind, overwhelm, indecisiveness, ambivalence, or inability to speak and negotiate better work conditions.

Look for coaching that helps you go beyond those surface level symptoms and makes you feel truly empowered to take control of your career and thrive!

It is so beneficial to get to the heart of the matter and dig deep into whats really holding you back from becoming the best version of yourself in your career and relationship. This is the best way for shifting from operating in the freeze response mode in your career, as well as your relationships.

Get started with my free worksheet that I use with my coaching clients,  “Overcoming Doubt in 5 Simple Steps“.

As an Executive Coach, I empower stressed, busy women leaders, who are tackling impostor syndrome, self-criticism, and doubt by helping them alleviate their stress so that they can find peace of mind while focusing on excelling in their careers.

Rather than focusing on surface-level issues, I help clients identify and shift the underlying patterns that quietly undermine their success. This approach leads to immediate, tangible changes…

…reducing stress, increasing confidence, and transforming overwhelm into clarity and ease. You can request a V.I.P. Roadmap session with me today.

Black woman wearing a red dress and pearl necklace ; How to identify a toxic work environment Steps to leave a toxic job gracefully Tips for finding a positive work environment after a toxic job Strategies for coping with stress from a toxic job Signs it's time to quit your toxic job, How to exit a toxic job without burning bridges, Navigating the job market after leaving a toxic workplace, Building resilience after experiencing a toxic job, Preparing for a career change after a toxic job, Overcoming fear of leaving a toxic job, exit a toxic job; Burnout coach in Maryland; best career coach for Black women near me
Twanna Carter, PhD, PCC, Career Coach. Photo by Renee Wilhite

I’m a certified executive coach and an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) for Twanna Carter Professional & Personal Coaching, LLC. I flubbed my first career transition from the military so badly, it took me the next 10+ years to build my confidence and  recover. I know what it feels like to struggle with imposter syndrome and uncertainty about my leadership skills in the workplace. It’s why I am dedicated to empowering Black women. Helping them navigate career challenges and uncertainty by providing them with the tools and strategies they need to be successful. Schedule a V.I.P. Roadmap session today.

If you enjoyed this blog, please share it. If you’re also feeling generous, consider Buying Me a Coffee.☕️

Curated Reads: Essential Books to Add to Your Personal Library 

Read my latest blogs…

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Is Doubt Key Reason Why You Can’t Move Forward in Your Career?

September 23, 2022

Career Tips

Beautiful Black woman working on a laptop Career coach doubt confidence self esteem self confidence self worth be confident self esteem is building confidence boost confidence career strategy resilience resiliency resilience meaning emotional intelligence Impostor syndrome Imposter syndrome Imposter syndrome definitionConfident introvert Confidence and power Anxiety and confidence Zero self esteem Zero confidence Your confidence Ways to gain confidence Unstoppable confidence To be more confident The power of self confidence The power of confidence The confidence coach Strong self confidence Self worth and self esteem Self worth Self esteem goals Self esteem coach Self confidence in leadership Self confidence hypnosis Self confidence coach Professional confidence Hypnosis for self esteem Hypnotherapy for confidence Having self confidence Get more confidence Confidence coach near me

I’m going to be honest with you: I’ve never been much of a risk-taker. I had way too much doubt. And I actually said I NEVER wanted to be an entrepreneur. And there were plenty of times when my risk-averse personality kept me stuck in a job that didn’t make me happy. It wasn’t until I realized that the reason why I couldn’t move forward was because of anxiety that things started changing for me and now I’m changing that for other people too!

 

 

You have doubt, and you don’t think you deserve better.  You don’t feel like you deserve…

a promotion.

to make more money.

to move up to a better job or career.

that director, manager, executive position

You feel like you’ve already accomplished so much, where do you go from here?

You’re doing great. You’ve got things on your resume and in your portfolio that you’re proud of, but it’s time for more. You want to do something different, better than what you did before.

But the problem is that you don’t know where to start or how to push yourself forward. And doubt starts to creep.

The answer is simple:

Find out where your skills could be used in new ways and challenge yourself with projects that stretch them beyond their comfort zone. But what happens when there is doubt?

As successful as you are, you have self-doubt.

You’re stuck because there’s a part of you that doesn’t believe that you deserve better. Sometimes you work at organizations that believe You are lucky to be there working for them, so stay in your place. And that just cosigns with the doubt you’re already feeling.

It doesn’t matter what your job title is or how much money you make you could be the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company. As long as there is lingering doubt in your mind about whether or not you are worthy of moving on to something bigger and better, then it will be difficult or impossible for anything else to happen.

Which results in you becoming stuck, afraid, or unable to move forward.

You don’t feel like you’re good at anything.

You don’t feel like you are good at your job, career, or life. The reason for this is that sometimes we compare ourselves to others and find ourselves lacking in comparison. Here’s the thing, all day and twice on Sunday comparison is a dream killer! It leads you to really doubt yourself. And, comparison causes self-esteem to decrease.

But what if I told you that what makes you unique is also what makes you valuable? This is especially true in the world of work, where employers often value and reward diversity.

Maybe this is you…

You’re afraid of failing.

Fear of failure is a real problem, and it can keep you from moving forward in your career. But fear is natural, and you’re not alone if this is what has been holding you back. In fact, it’s completely normal to have fears about what might happen if you take a risk or go after something new. But it doesn’t mean that those fears should hold us back indefinitely!

Or this is you…

Success scares you.

You’ve been working hard, and you’re getting closer to achieving your goals. You want what’s best for yourself and your family and that includes success. But there’s just one problem: success scares you.

As a general rule, most people don’t like change; they prefer stability over risk-taking. The thought of going after something big can be terrifying because it involves risk of failure as well as success. And failure is often seen as something negative or even shameful by society at large.

So if you feel doubt and fear around moving forward in your career or life in general, there’s no need to feel ashamed or guilty about it! You’re not alone.

Lets face it. You can have a fear of failure or success and they are both equally detrimental to growth because they keep us from taking risks and seeking out new opportunities. And when we don’t take risks, our potential for growth ceases to exist.

This fear leads to the one key reason why you cant seem to move forward in your career.

Recognizing the anxiety freeze mode

Beautiful woman starting at computer screen Career coach confidence self esteem self confidence self worth be confident self esteem is building confidence boost confidence career strategy resilience resiliency resilience meaning emotional intelligence Impostor syndrome Imposter syndrome Imposter syndrome definition doubt

You may not recognize that you are in freeze response mode. Some symptoms include:

  • feeling stuck
  • don’t know why you’re stuck
  • afraid to move forward because of what might happen if you do
  • feeling overwhelmed

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry you’re not alone! The freeze response of anxiety can feel exhausting.

We’ve heard the term “deer caught in headlights”. The deer freezes as a last resort in nature. Because many predators don’t like dead prey. So, freezing, falling down motionless works to make some predators uninterested. When the predator loses interest, the prey can “come back to life” and live free to carry on and live for another day.

Freeze response for humans doesn’t quite give us the same results!

Freeze response can feel like:

  • overwhelm and unable to make a decision.
  • knowing all the steps, but you’re able to take any of them.
  • knowing you’re not appreciated or valued where you are; but feel hopelessly stuck or even ambivalent about moving forward.
  • being disrespected, being dismissed, seeing others get promotions, and feeling too afraid to move on.
  • it may look like perfectionism, and when you cant achieve perfection (well because nobody can) you then verify that you can’t possibly move on to another job, because you haven’t perfected this one. And you feel stuck. And doubt increases.
  • your mind going blank.
  • fatigued and exhaustion, and you haven’t really done a lot to feel that way
  • standing still, or even like you have disassociated, like you are watching yourself feel stuck, but cant seem to fix it. Finally,
  • maybe you just feel numb.

Unfortunately for humans, life doesn’t just fix itself and carry on because were in freeze mode

Sometimes the hole we dig through inaction and staying at jobs too long gets larger and larger. And we can’t just shake it off and wake up to find that life is exactly where we need it be. I had a client who was stuck in the same job, same boss over for 15 years! Nothing was fixed until she shifted out of freeze response with our coaching session. Then she was able to take clear and focused action. And changed jobs…

…landing a VP role.

V.I.P. Career Services

This is why my VIP Career Services include doing more than just helping you get that next position. Although I do coach you to snag that new position! It’s also about doing more than coaching you on freeze response symptoms such as: blank mind, overwhelm, indecisiveness, ambivalence, or inability to speak and negotiate better work conditions.

Look for coaching that helps you go beyond those surface level symptoms and makes you feel truly empowered to take control of your career and thrive!

It is so beneficial to get to the heart of the matter and dig deep into whats really holding you back from becoming the best version of yourself in your career and relationship. This is the best way for shifting from operating in the freeze response mode in your career, as well as your relationships.

Get started with my free worksheet that I use with my coaching clients,  “Overcoming Doubt in 5 Simple Steps“.

As an Executive Coach, I empower stressed, busy women leaders, who are tackling impostor syndrome, self-criticism, and doubt by helping them alleviate their stress so that they can find peace of mind while focusing on excelling in their careers.

Rather than focusing on surface-level issues, I help clients identify and shift the underlying patterns that quietly undermine their success. This approach leads to immediate, tangible changes…

…reducing stress, increasing confidence, and transforming overwhelm into clarity and ease. You can request a V.I.P. Roadmap session with me today.

Black woman wearing a red dress and pearl necklace ; How to identify a toxic work environment Steps to leave a toxic job gracefully Tips for finding a positive work environment after a toxic job Strategies for coping with stress from a toxic job Signs it's time to quit your toxic job, How to exit a toxic job without burning bridges, Navigating the job market after leaving a toxic workplace, Building resilience after experiencing a toxic job, Preparing for a career change after a toxic job, Overcoming fear of leaving a toxic job, exit a toxic job; Burnout coach in Maryland; best career coach for Black women near me
Twanna Carter, PhD, PCC, Career Coach. Photo by Renee Wilhite

I’m a certified executive coach and an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) for Twanna Carter Professional & Personal Coaching, LLC. I flubbed my first career transition from the military so badly, it took me the next 10+ years to build my confidence and  recover. I know what it feels like to struggle with imposter syndrome and uncertainty about my leadership skills in the workplace. It’s why I am dedicated to empowering Black women. Helping them navigate career challenges and uncertainty by providing them with the tools and strategies they need to be successful. Schedule a V.I.P. Roadmap session today.

If you enjoyed this blog, please share it. If you’re also feeling generous, consider Buying Me a Coffee.☕️

Curated Reads: Essential Books to Add to Your Personal Library 

Read my latest blogs…

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I hope you find value in these shared experiences and insights. Enjoy exploring!

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