Every woman has an extraordinary potential inside her, waiting to be unleashed. Yet, in a world filled with societal expectations, gender norms, and multiple roles to play, it can be all too easy to lose touch with this potential. As women, we sometimes find ourselves trapped under an “inner glass ceiling” – self-imposed limitations that stop us from being all we can be. It’s not always clear when we’re living under this invisible barrier. However, there are signs and symptoms that can indicate you’re not fully tapping into your potential. Here are eight signs that might suggest you’re living beneath your true capabilities.
1. Feeling Unfulfilled or Unsatisfied: One of the most common signs is a lingering sense of dissatisfaction. No matter what you accomplish or achieve, you might always feel like something is missing. This could be a sign that you’re not engaged in activities that align with your true passions or intellect, or you may be suppressing your desires to fit into societal molds.
2. Lack of Motivation or Enthusiasm: If you’re constantly feeling disengaged, unmotivated, or unenthusiastic about your work or personal life, it’s worth asking why. This could indicate a disconnect between what you’re currently doing and what your soul truly yearns for.
3. Imposter Syndrome: Many high-achieving women suffer from this crippling belief that they are frauds. Despite clear evidence of their competence, they live in constant fear of being ‘found out.’ This inability to internalize one’s success can severely limit your growth.
4. Overwhelm and Burnout: Trying to meet external expectations can sometimes lead to overworking, resulting in physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion, also known as burnout. If you find yourself consistently drained or overwhelmed, it may be hard to recognize that not doing work that aligns with your full potential may add to feeling fatigued.
5. Controlling Everything: Do you need to control everything you do? Always being in control requires that you do things that may or may not best use your talents and potential. Often, you may find those around you who excel at something you do not and would value participating. In this way, you can spend more time doing what you love.
6. Self-Doubt and Insecurity: Constantly questioning your abilities, despite evidence of your talents, can be a symptom of not living up to your potential. In my twenties, I discovered I was good at creating visions and articulating them in a way others could understand. But I didn’t enjoy the behind-the-scenes detail project tracking. Doing things we don’t enjoy can indicate that we’re not aligned with our talents. Because these things may not be one of our talents, they can often take so much more energy to complete than when they come naturally, resulting in self-doubt, a loss of opportunities, and stifling personal growth.
7. Avoidance of Challenges: Shying away from new opportunities or challenges due to fear of failure can keep you stuck within your comfort zone. At some time in your life, you may have experienced strong repercussions or backlash for failing or making a mistake and adapted by avoiding challenges. While feeling fear is okay, not confronting it can hinder you from achieving your true potential.
8. Feeling Stuck: Do you ever feel like you’re running in place? If you feel trapped in your current circumstances with no idea how to progress or change, it’s a clear sign you’re not living in alignment with your fullest potential.
Recognizing these signs is the first crucial step towards breaking through your inner glass ceiling. Awareness can empower you to seek changes and embrace your authentic self. It’s essential to remember that feeling stuck or unsatisfied doesn’t indicate failure. Instead, it signals that more is waiting to be discovered inside you. As Marianne Williamson famously said, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
The challenge with each of these symptoms is that something is going on that makes it hard to break out of these patterns. That’s why I designed “Breaking Through the Inner Glass Ceiling” to help women get to the root of what’s holding them back and help them develop strategies to move forward.
Let’s unleash the extraordinary potential that lies within each of us, shattering our inner glass ceilings and embracing a life of authenticity, fulfillment, and boundless possibilities.
2 Comments
Wise words Terri. What you say rings true. The inner glass ceiling is real, and it can broken once we recognise the patterns. Sometimes we need coaching or mentoring guidance to see the patterns and get practical strategies to break them down.
Thank you Dr. Masi!