“Women, It is Time to Change Your Self-Image” By Suzana Mihajlovic

Image Credit: Suzana Mihajlovic with Bob Proctor | Your2Minds, www.your2minds.com

As women, we are indoctrinated from a young age to look, feel and behave in certain ways. In our current society, we are bombarded with images and messages that tell us what is acceptable for a woman. Yet, many of these messages are far from possible for any woman to reach, the subliminal seeds of perfection equating to being ‘worthy’ (often in the eyes of the men surrounding women) are not only unrealistic but damaging.

This bombardment of unrealistic expectations and perceptions has led to many women feeling “not enough”. Our internal image of who we are as a result of these perceptions, is one of lack, of not measuring up, or somehow being flawed. Our self-image impacts on all areas of our lives — who we choose to date, the job we choose to apply for and the level of success in our careers, if and how we speak up, the general minimising of who we are that many women have as their default.

So, are women unconscious misogynists? No (or very few women) woman would actively try to keep other women small (although we have seen a fair bit of this in the treatment of Brittany Higgins), the sad truth is that an overwhelming percentage of women — a staggering 80 percent according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (2022) lack self-esteem and confidence in the workforce.

According to KPMG’s ‘Advancing the future of Women in Business Summit’ Report, impostor syndrome has been reported as one of the most prevalent issues affecting professionals today and one of the least talked about especially for women. This imposter syndrome can manifest in feelings of being a fraud or not deserving success.

The feelings that are experienced as a consequence are not only potentially detrimental to your role but every aspect of your results, including why you feel worthy/unworthy of pay and your general career satisfaction.

Studies by Dr. Maxwell Maltz, in the 60s show that those who have poor self-images are significantly less likely to receive improved results. This is because your results will always match your inner self-image, or the way that you see yourself. Therefore, if you see yourself as unworthy or a fraud, you would be less likely to have career satisfaction or ask for a pay rise.
So, how can more women breakthrough to greater levels of success, ditch their unconscious misogyny that keeps them small and go on to thrive in their true power? How can they experience greater career satisfaction as well as a pay packet that is worthy of the work that they are doing?

As someone who has worked in the field of human potential for decades, I personally think that it is time that we open up and have this discussion. It is time for us women to express how we are feeling not because we are victims, but because nothing changes in silence. And in silence it can potentially grow leading to more entrenched issues and problems.

So what are the steps women can take to overcome this?

If you are feeling like an impostor in any way, speak to someone that you can trust. It might be a superior at work or another colleague or friend. Staying silent about the impacts of impostor syndrome can lead to more problematic issues such as deeper feelings of unworthiness, anxiety or shame. We now know that shame grows in silence.

Understand that you are not alone. Sometimes, it is simply understanding that so many others experience what you have been experiencing in the workforce that will set you free. It somehow makes it a little bit easier when you know that other people, some of whom you may look up to, have been through it too.

Journal your experience. Journaling helps you get your emotions and personal experience out of your body and onto the paper. It will also help you understand yourself a little deeper. You may be able to identify trigger points and prominent thoughts that lead to your feelings.

Change your thoughts (I know — easier said than done!). When you have identified your thinking patterns that lead to feelings of unworthiness, low self esteem or the feeling of being an impostor, you are better equipped to change them to more positive, constructive and beneficial thoughts.

Create a new self-identity. Create a new image in your mind that matches the success and confidence that you would like to have. Write a script in present tense that matches this new self-image. Read it daily and practice thinking, feeling and behaving in the way that matches this new image. A powerful new self-image will always bring you powerful new results in your role, in your pay and in your career satisfaction. Remind yourself daily of who you truly are — a powerful, intelligent confident woman with many strengths that brings value and intelligence to her role. Do this for thirty days and watch how things change for you.


Meet Our Contributor — Suzana Mihajlovic

“Suzana is one of my top people in the world.” — Bob Proctor

Suzana Mihajlovic has had over 30 years experience and expertise in the helping professions, distinguishing her from the ordinary. She has been referred to as the “missing link between success and failure”. Her international success coaching company, Your2Minds, has clients from every continent (except Antarctica). Suzana has helped hundreds of people to break through their barriers and achieve quantum levels of success — both in their professional and personal lives. She is also a multiple best selling author and holds a number of degrees, diplomas and certificates from universities around the world. Suzana is a highly sought out professional in the field of mindset, human potential, success and spirituality. She has led major public speaking events and has also shared the stage with the world’s greatest leader in human potential, Bob Proctor himself.