Could it be that it’s not actually imposter syndrome, but rather the world we live in and culture we work in that make women feel like we do?

You may or may not have the word “executive” in your job title, but your life and career can still improve dramatically from working with an executive wellness coach. Executive wellness coaching is an asset for all sorts of leaders. Just as great athletes don’t hesitate to call on coaches, trainers, hypnotists and spiritual advisors in order to maintain their dominance, it’s a mark of wisdom and strength for leaders from all walks of life to seek professional guidance and support.

Resilience is a psychological quality that allows some people to weather adversity and come back at least as strong as before, perhaps even stronger. Rather than letting challenges, disruptions or failures overcome them and drain their energy and resolve, highly resilient people find a way to pivot, emotionally heal and continue moving forward towards their goals and dreams.

Imposter syndrome is a joy killer. It’s something worse than just normal performance anxiety; it’s an internal dialog about whether you are worthy to be in the room at all despite evidence to the contrary. It doesn’t matter what expertise and credentials you have. In fact, you could have a wall full of degrees and still find yourself feeling like a phony.

Imposter syndrome is defined as the persistent inability to believe one’s success is deserved and has been achieved through skill and hard work. It is often accompanied with feelings of self-doubt, fear of success or failure and persistent self-sabotage. It’s also more common than one may think. In fact, according to the Journal of Behavioral Science approximately 70% of people will experience imposter syndrome in their lifetime.

If you’re one of that 70%, read on for eight tips to help combat imposter syndrome as well as a list of affirmations to lift yourself up when you need it most.

Affirmations are positive statements that help you to challenge self-limiting beliefs and negative thoughts. When you become intentional about incorporating affirmations as part of your routine, you can start to feel their power and begin to make positive changes.

Some people think that affirmations are too new age-y and unrealistic. I encourage you to shift your thinking and reframe affirmations this way: many of us do repetitive exercises to improve our physical well-being, and affirmations are no different. They are exercises for our mindset. Affirmations can reprogram our thinking patterns and as we practice we begin to think and act differently.

Here’s a quick and dirty list of how to use affirmations…

Do you feel bombarded with the reality that time is running out? How will I feel about my life when my children leave the nest, when I am faced with retirement? Will I have regret that I let anxiety dictate my every move or lack of? Will I regret not fighting harder in my marriage or perhaps staying too long in a lifeless marriage?