​​“The nation doesn’t simply need what we have. It needs what we are” (St. Teresa Benedicta).

After I completed a year of service as a missionary in Denver, I decided to stick around to find a career and make Colorado my home. My degree was in psychology, but I had a minor in mass communication and journalism, so I wasn’t exactly sure which career path I would take.

I took on odd jobs like working as a barista at a coffee shop, babysitting, and working small communications gigs for the nonprofit I had served with the year prior. After months of searching, I finally landed my first “big girl” job as a director of development for an inner-city Catholic school.

A Defining Moment as a Professional

I was 23 years old and had zero clue how to work in a director-level position. Luckily for me, I had some incredible mentors. They were some of the most ferocious (can I say bad a**?) women I have ever encountered. While I don’t have the room here to list out all the encounters I had with these women, I remember one instance vividly.

One spring day during a strategic planning meeting, I was among my peers, my managers, and members of the board. I hardly spoke up. I didn’t have an opinion on the matter. I didn’t know what a strategic session should look like. I didn’t know if anyone cared about my opinion.

The day ended, and we returned to the office. A few days later, my supervisor, Sarah, sat me down in her office and told me she was disappointed that I never spoke up during our strategic planning meeting. “I want you to own this. Why didn’t you speak up more? I was disappointed.”

That conversation was a difficult one, but it shaped me into the professional woman I am today, and I am grateful for her tough love.

Am I Qualified Enough for the Job?

It has been almost 10 years since my first job, and since then, I have settled in as a marketing professional. With each job I have taken on, I have found myself becoming more and more who God created me to be as a working woman. Still, though, I experience times of imposter syndrome—you know, that eerie feeling when you ask yourself, “Am I good enough for this job?” or, “Do I really know what I’m doing?” or, “Maybe someone else should be doing this work.”

Researchers have studied this phenomenon, in which individuals feel like they are a fraud and chalk up their success to luck, finding it difficult to credit themselves for the hard work they put in to achieve their goals. While this term, “imposter syndrome,” is often used in women's groups, researchers have found that it equally impacts men and women.

Even when we’ve performed well, we may still have that underlying feeling that we can’t keep up and someone else could do better.

Ways to Break the Cycle

So is it even possible to break this cycle of feeling like an imposter? Whether you are starting a new job, working on a new project, or assigned to a new client, here are a few tips to keep you going when you feel like you’re not worthy:

Talk to Others

It can be isolating if we feel like we’re the only one who experiences these feelings of defeat. Chances are, there are others you are close to who go through the same thing. Talk to them about it, and learn from one another.

Share Your Accomplishments

Easier said than done, right? I’ve had a few instances where I knew I nailed a project and, rather than pretending like it was no big deal, said I was proud of myself. It’s not bragging; it’s acknowledging the gifts God gave me and embracing them.

Ask for God’s Guidance

Maybe you’re really struggling with your vocation and don’t know if you are in the career that’s for you. That’s OK! Turn to God in prayer and ask him to help guide you. You never know where it will lead you.

There are plenty of methods you can use to kick imposter syndrome to the curb. These three are just a handful that I have used in my life. Start a new cycle rather than falling into the trap that you are not enough. You are loved, and you are worthy of the job. If you need a reminder you are capable of the task ahead of you, let this article be your reminder!

Colleen Godinez is a freelance copywriter living in Kansas City. She graduated from Kansas State University with a BS in psychology and a minor in journalism and mass communication. In her spare time, she loves laughing with friends and family and finding new wines to sip on (sparkling rose on warmer days). She has learned to appreciate the little things in life and soaks up every moment she can with her two kids and husband. You can follow her on Facebook or Instagram.