Breaking Through The Fear of Self-Promotion

Beginning to breakthrough my fear of self-promotion at the Women Of Focus Trade Show, March, 2016

Without my precious food to numb me,  I recently came face to face with the

thoughts and beliefs that could keep my business stuck.

Specifically, my thoughts and judgments about marketing, selling and

promoting myself and my business.

I resist promoting myself because I’m afraid I’ll be

perceived as arrogant, manipulative or self-serving.

However, if I don’t promote myself then I will either not be in

business very long or I’ll only reach a small number of people.

“… pay attention when you want

to eat a box of Oreos,

drink a bottle of wine or

whatever your drug of choice is.”

What can I (we) do with these thoughts and beliefs rather

than divert them with food, wine or keeping crazy busy?

I chose to look deeper rather than going for the distraction and found

there was a message for me.

Below are 4 steps you can use when you’re stuck:

1. Notice your negative or limiting thoughts and beliefs.

If it’s hard to recognize your thoughts, check in with how you’re

feeling then back track to find the thought that created it.

Your thoughts create how you feel.

Use your feelings as signposts to point to what’s going on

in your head. And definitely pay attention when you want to eat

a box of Oreos, drink a bottle of wine or whatever your drug of choice is.

My limiting beliefs were:

“I can’t promote myself or my business because people will see

me as arrogant, manipulative or pushy. They’ll get angry and not want

to have anything to do with me.”

“When we carry negative thoughts, fear

and limiting beliefs from childhood,

we aren’t able to be who we truly are.”

2. Once you realize your negative thoughts or limiting beliefs, ask yourself,

“Who is this coming from?” and “What is the message it has for me?”

My beliefs came from this scared little girl inside of me. A little girl who,

when she dared to be who she was, was often met with disdain and the question,

“Who do you think you are?” and with statements like “You’re stupid,” 

“You’re ugly,” or “You’re a girl so you don’t count.”

My inner little girl came away feeling like the world was against her

and had to “be a good girl” and not standout in any way. This was

the part of me that was afraid to shine because it had been

met with pain in the past.

The message she had for me, was that she wanted to be accepted

for who she was and she wanted to come out and play.

3. Ask yourself, “What do I need?”

When we carry negative thoughts, fear and limiting beliefs

from childhood, we aren’t able to be who we truly are.

There was a part of me that wanted to come out and play but

every time it tried, I pushed it down by telling myself not

to get “too big for my britches.” 

I wound up feeling like I betrayed myself.

What I need in these moments, is a shot of reassurance

along with a large dose of self-love and non-judgment.

I need to be more worried about taking care of myself and less worried

about what others think.

Photo credit: H.Armstrong Roberts/Getty Images

4. Give yourself what you need.

It’s not enough to ask yourself what you need. You actually have to

give yourself permission to have it.

That little girl is part of me. It’s the part that wants to have fun and play.

It’s also the part that has been trying to protect me from being hurt

AND the part that has been keeping me stuck.

I need to give this part of me love, acceptance and reassurance

that we can handle anything life throws at us.

Then trust myself, relax and enjoy the ride!

Lather, rinse, repeat! This is a constant process of bumping up against

our fear, negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.

We are never finished.

When I choose not to numb or distract myself with food,

I open myself up

to fun, joy and endless possibilities.

What negative thoughts, fear and limiting beliefs are ready for you to transform?