Starting Over: Part 2

The Fear of Inadequacy

Doubts about our skills, experience, and worthiness can undermine our confidence. These are the tenets of imposter syndrome. Feeling you don’t belong, you’re not good enough, or smart enough may make you question whether you are truly capable of succeeding when you start over. Recognize your gifting, look at your past victories and know that if God did it before, he can do it again. It may not be exactly what you used to do, but God is faithful. He will be with you and will anoint you to do what He has called you to do. It is a matter of trust, but it is also a matter of personal belief. You are enough!

Strategies to Overcome the Fear of Inadequacy

1. Focus on Strengths: Identify and leverage your unique strengths and talents. Reflect on past successes and how they can apply to your new venture. Trust God and reflect on how he has blessed you in the past.

2. Continuous Learning: Commit to ongoing personal and professional development. Enroll in courses, attend workshops, and seek mentorship to enhance your skills. When I decided to start the podcast, the first thing I did was sign up for a podcast course.

I listen to a lot of podcasters and coaches and when one of my favorites advertised her podcasting course, I signed up and went through her course twice, implementing her recommendations. I then followed a young man from Atlanta by buying his course and doing the same thing. Both gave me great nuggets to emulate, and each had their own strengths. As I studied, I gained confidence knowing that I was prepared to launch the podcast and how to make it my own.

3. Positive Affirmations: If I know anything, I know how negative confession can derail your dreams and your plans. So just know you have to be careful what you confess about yourself. Practice positive self-talk and affirmations. Find scripture to stand on, believing that God’s promises are “yea and amen” and they will not return to Him void. Make a list of your gifts and talents, then remind yourself of your capabilities and the reasons why you are pursuing this new path as you begin again.

The Fear of Judgment

Worrying about what others think can prevent us from taking bold steps. This fear of judgment can be particularly challenging in leadership roles where visibility is high. And as an Assistant pastor and someone who is active on social media, I qualify.

I must confess, this is my “Achilles heel” – worrying about other’s opinion of me. What will their reaction be? Will they accept me? Like me? Deem me worthy of their approval? What if they think I’m really bad and they talk about me on social media?

All these questions had me worrying and hesitant about starting a new ministry. I allowed it to bog me down and often sat paralyzed unable to make critical decisions that could propel me forward.

So I had to make some decisions and you do to, if you are worrying about other’s opinion of you. And one important decision I made was this. You can’t control what others think about you. Wallowing in indecisionYou can’t allow other’s opinion to dictate what you can and will do. Waiting around for other people’s opinion is a waste of time.

And most of us want acceptance from others, but just know, that their acceptance might be there today, but absent tomorrow. Here are some tips that will help you confront the fear of judgement.

Strategies to Overcome the Fear of Judgment:

1. Clarify Your Purpose: Stay focused on your mission and why you are starting over. Let your purpose drive your actions rather than the opinions of others. Only you know what God has called you to do in this moment, rest in that, and don’t allow other people’s opinions sway what you do or how you do it.

2. Limit Comparisons: Avoid comparing your journey to others. Each person's path is unique, and success looks different for everyone. The need to compare grows greatly when we see other’s success and we have done what we know we are to do. Seeing their social media platforms that highlight all of their successes, and seeing all the likes and other engagements can dwarf your efforts when you haven’t put in the work or you have done the work but don’t get the response that you thought was coming. Do the work and speak life over what you have done, knowing you have done your best. Comparing yourself to others will dim your own light, when you choose to sit in the dark and not let your own light shine.

3. Build a Supportive Network: Engage with like-minded individuals who encourage and uplift you. When you have support from friends and family, it will make a huge difference when you have to acknowledge doubters and naysayers. Get some cheerleaders -people that want you to succeed and will support you from the sidelines. But more importantly, encourage yourself. Speak life over your efforts and expect God to bless you. Positive influences can counteract the fear of judgment especially when those positive influences come from within. Remember, you are enough – even when your support network is not around.

The Fear of Financial Instability

Financial uncertainty can be a significant barrier to starting over, especially if you are leaving a stable position for a new and uncharted path. It is critical for you to assess your financial standing and see exactly where you are and what you can do financially. The strategies below will help you prepare so you can finance whatever you need to as you start over.

Strategies to Overcome the Fear of Financial Instability:

1. Plan and Budget: Create a financial plan and budget to manage your resources effectively. Identify potential income streams and cost-saving measures. As you identify those potential income streams, make the decision how you will make those new “streams” productive by adding to your net worth. Sometimes we see those new avenues of income and we have no plan – so we waste the financial increase that we have been blessed with. So create a plan of how you create new income streams and how you will manage it.

2. Build a Safety Net: Save a financial cushion to support yourself during the initial stages of the new venture. Don’t spend it all just because it is there in savings. Creating a financial safety net will be there to support you when sales don’t come in or you don’t raise the funds you were counting on to finance the vision so you could start over.

3. Explore Funding Options: Look into grants, loans, or other financial support available for new businesses or ministries. When you assess where you financially, you’ll know where you stand and what you need to do so you will have enough or realize that you have a need to find new ways to fund what God is doing. If you need to establish a 501c3, so you can qualify for grants, start doing your research on how to set up a 501c3 and then find a good grant writer. Your possibilities are endless if you are willing to build a financial plan.

Trust God and Leap!

Whether it is the fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, dealing with imposter syndrome, the fear of judgement, or you are afraid you won’t have the financial resources to do it all – it doesn’t matter.

All you need is some faith to take a huge leap and just begin. Starting over as an entrepreneur or you’ve gotten a new position on your job, or you’re birthing a new ministry - all of it will take a courageous step that requires confidence and boldness. I call it “Walking in Big Shoes”.

If you trust God and are grateful for the chance to start again, God will do some phenomenal things for you, by you and through you, if you’re willing to take a leap of faith and start over.

By confronting our fears with clear strategies and focusing on faith, vision, resilience, and support, we can navigate this journey of beginning again successfully.

As I continue to share relevant and inspiring content through "The Evolution of Me" podcast, I invite you to join me in embracing our calling and making a difference, together. Remember, every step we take, whether it be a success or a challenge, it is all part of God's plan for our growth and fulfillment. Let's begin again with confidence and boldness, trusting that the best is yet to come.