Ready to embrace a growth mindset?
I help small business owners and freelancers break free from self-doubt & unlock their full potential in 10 weeks time with my Positive Professional Program.
Would you also like results like these?
“I hardly suffer from negative thoughts anymore”
“Maya helped me to realize my strong sides and qualities”
“I dare to act better,
and making mistakes is okay”
I help people like you get results like this.
And I would LOVE to work with you next!
The pressure to DO IT ALL can be overwhelming, I know...
Of course, you don’t want to let your clients down. Of course, you don’t want to be rejected. And of course, you’re worried about other’s opinions.
The fear you’re ‘not good enough’ or that ‘you don’t have what it takes’ does not only make you feel bad – your fears and insecurities translate in the way you do business.
Because the way you think makes it tempting to stay in the background. To play it safe. To pass on great opportunities. To overthink everything. And after a long enough struggle, you might even start considering getting a 9-5 again…
In other words, your way of thinking will lead you AWAY from achieving your dreams and aspirations. And will lead you towards self-sabotage, like procrastination, perfectionism, working too hard or too long and giving up on your dream business.
Does that sound familiar?
'The solution must be to become better, right?'
A lot of us, solopreneurs and freelancers who struggle with imposter syndrome, limiting beliefs and self-doubt, turn to education with the hope it will better the situation. By improving our skills and knowledge, we hope that our perfectionism will finally be satisfied. So we invest a buttload (money and our precious time) in courses, workshops and masterclasses, that will ultimately leave us feeling no different.
Because the cold, hard truth is…
You will never feel truly satisfied as long as you are aiming for perfection. Perfection does not exist.
You can hate me for saying this, but you will never be perfect.
But your clients do not expect you to be either (and if they do, RUN).
If you continue to let your fears and insecurities to make your decisions for you, you ultimately won’t make decisions that serve you.
I'll let you in on a little secret
If you’re SICK AND TIRED of your fears and insecurities making you doubt your every step, overthink the dumbest little things, and keep you up at night because you made a stupid little mistake – the trick isn’t to evolve your skills, knowledge or to become more experienced.
Though courses, masterclasses, books, webinars, workshops, ect. might increase your know-how, it won’t necessarily make you feel more confident, comfortable or effective in your job. ‘Learning’ won’t make it easier for you to stand your ground, make decisions, show up, or even make you feel less stressed.
The real trick is…
To work on your mindset. From time to time, we are all plagued by limiting beliefs and negative thoughts about ourselves. These are negative statements you make about yourself and accept as if they were facts. Examples of limiting beliefs are:
- I’m not good enough
- I’m not smart enough
- I have no clue what I’m doing
- They’ll find out I can’t actually do this
- I’m nothing like the ‘real entrepreneurs’
Does that sound familiar? The way you think about yourself plays a way bigger role in your insecurities than your actual skill level or expertise. They chip away at your self-esteem, causing hesitation, indecision, stress, and anxiety, and potentially clouds your judgment and dampens your productivity.
Which, honestly, is a HUGE waste of your time and your talent!
When you believe you’re not good enough, you’ll hold back from embracing opportunities. And by avoiding opportunities to prove yourself, you make your fears and insecurities a reality;
- You think you can never learn to program, so you never learn to program.
- You think you can never design something that beautiful, so you don’t even try.
- You don’t think they wanna work with you, so you don’t let them know you’re available.
As long as you hold on to your limiting beliefs, you won’t make the decisions you need to make to find out what the potential of your business is.
However, by challenging and reframing these beliefs, you can (re)claim your confidence, alleviate stress, and you won’t have to miss out on what your business can become.
Wondering how I can be so sure of this?
Because I too was once convinced I wasn’t good enough.
I let my fears and insecurities hold me back.
The fear of what other people thought of me, kept me from letting myself (and my business) be seen.
And I missed out on a lot of opportunities, just because I didn’t believe I was capable. Or worthy.
And now?
My name is Maya, and this is my story
I studied communications, and after graduating I felt like that was the WORST idea ever, as a person with dyslexia. Though I’ve always liked the creative aspect of writing, I thought I could never make a living out of it because of my learning disability.
I felt like I could not keep up. Nothing I did was ever good enough. And sooner or later, my bosses would figure out I wasn’t meant to be there.
After trying out various jobs within comms, improving my grammar as much as I could, and doing several additional comms & marketing courses, the one thing that truly helped me get rid of my fear of failure, anxiety and stress surrounding work, was rewiring my brain to believe:
- I am good enough;
- I am allowed to make mistakes;
- And I deserve just as much as everybody else.
Eventually, I started freelancing. And now, in addition, I run my own business, in which I – most importantly – help other solopreneurs and freelancers to realize their self-worth and feel fulfilled in their jobs.
This is what will happen when you start challenging your limiting beliefs
- You REALLY start to believe that making mistakes is okay
- You won’t be as scared to act anymore
- You’ll know that failure isn’t the end of the world
- It will become easier to make decisions
- You’ll be better able to stand up for yourself
- You won’t shy away from great opportunities
- You’ll develop self-esteem AND self-compassion
But there is more...
- You will find pride in your accomplishments, even if they’re not ‘perfect’
- You’ll develop more resilience to overcome setbacks, so they won’t affect you as much
- You will be able to accept the positive feedback you get from others and won’t be suspicious about it
- You’ll finally truly understand you can’t compare yourself to others, and you will be less inclined to do so
- The barrier to trying new things decreases, making it easier to do the things you’ve always wanted to do
- You will be able to let go of your perfectionism, making you more time-efficient, flexible and productive
- The way you think about yourself will be with compassion and kindness instead of judgement and punishment, making you feel more at ease and relaxed
This is what you can expect when we start working together
The process of creating a growth mindset
During a free and non-binding introduction call, we’ll discuss what you would like to accomplish while working with me. We’ll also get to know each other a bit more, so we’ll be better able to determine if we’re a good fit for each other.
Note: Your well-being is a top priority to me. If I feel that my program or guidance is not suitable for you, I will let you know.
The method I use to build self-esteem, combat limiting beliefs and thereby help you overcome imposter syndrome, is based on Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which consists out of these 3 parts:
- Thoughts: How we think is usually our first response to a situation. This is also what ultimately affects how we deal with the situation the most.
- Feelings: The thoughts that we have help shape our emotions. If our thoughts are negative, we feel bad. If our thoughts are positive, we’re happier.
- Behavior: This is how we respond, act and what we do. This is the part that usually results in real-life consequences for you and your business.
The situation that has set this cycle in action, is usually beyond your control. If a potential client chooses to work with someone else, you can’t really do anything about it. And if someone points out your mistake, it’s already too late to change it.
But what you CAN change, is how you think, and therefor also how you feel and how you will respond. That’s why we’re gonna focus on changing your negative, limiting beliefs into something that will HELP your business grow, instead of sabotage it.
Keep reading for further explanation & examples! 👇
Identify the trigger: What sets off your negative thoughts?
First of all, we will search for the specific situations and events that evoke negative feelings surrounding your work. So, what causes you stress? Or what makes you feel like an imposter? For example, some people get triggered by:
- Negative feedback
- The absence of positive feedback
- Getting an assignment
- Talking to peers about work
- Getting up in the morning
By recognizing what sets off your feelings of anxiety, fear, or unworthiness, you gain insight into what negatively affects your self-image – the first step towards sustainable change in your mindset!
Examine your thought patterns - Become aware of your inner dialogue
Without knowing exactly what your limiting beliefs are, you cannot change your mindset.
Limiting beliefs are negative thoughts that you have about yourself or your business, and regard as a fact – causing you to feel insecure, inadequate, and maybe even worthless. Examples of limiting beliefs are:
- Sooner or later, I’ll be exposed for being a fraud
- Clients won’t see my worth unless I over-deliver every time
- I’m not as good as the other freelancers out there
- There are ‘real entrepreneurs’, and then there’s people like me
- Maybe I’m not cut out to run my own business
- I’ll never be able to manage it all
- If I post this on social media, I’ll sound stupid
These are beliefs I’ve heard from self-employed people that are standing in the way of their own success. But be aware that limiting beliefs are very personal, and differ from person to person.
Everybody has their own inner demons. And you’ll have to look inwards to discover what your exact limiting beliefs are. But no worry, I’ll be there to help & support you through this.
Instilling a 'growth mindset': Replacing limiting beliefs with empowering truths
Now you’ve discovered what thoughts are holding you back from building the business you dream of, it’s time to combat them. And we’re going to do that by – essentially – rewiring your brain.
I know that that might sound hard. And intimidating. And maybe also scary. But it is what’s necessary to create a mindset that will allow you to effectively chase your goals.
Because see, we often regard ‘self-confidence’ and a character trait, while it actually isn’t. It is a skill. And because it’s a skill, it can be taught. Just like insecurity can be unlearned.
Together, we’ll take the thoughts that are currently holding you back and reshape them into beliefs that work for you, rather than against you.
For example:
❌ Sooner or later, I’ll be exposed as a fraud.
✅ I have valuable skills and experience, and I continue to grow and improve.
❌ If I post this on social media, I’ll sound stupid.
✅ The right people will appreciate what I share, because my expertise matters.
❌ Maybe I’m not cut out to run my own business.
✅ Running s business is HARD, and I am capable enough to make it work.
This isn’t about “just thinking positive.” It’s about creating realistic, supportive thoughts that actually help you move forward.
And because every person’s inner dialogue if different, I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. I have a variety of techniques and exercises that we’ll use, depending on what works best for YOU.
From awareness to habit – A process you can return to
Recognition and reshaping is great, GREAT progress, but real change happens through repetition. Just like you didn’t develop self-doubt overnight, it will also take time to unlearn it. The key to creating a lasting and sustainable change in the way you think, is by making it a habit.
Repetition, repetition, repetition!
Chances are, you’ve been dealing with self-doubt for a while – maybe your entire life already! Either way, if you REALLY want to believe and trust in yourself, you will have to train your brain to make it your new default.
And just like learning any new skill – whether it’s riding a bike, learning a new language or playing the tuba – it takes practice. And at moments that might feel frustrating, uncomfortable and just plain boring.
But in time, you’ll become better at it. You’ll have fewer negative thoughts. And when a new one pops up, you’ll recognize it with a lot more ease. And you might also start breaking it down immediately – unintentionally even!
Because the foundation is there. And if you need, you can also return to the techniques and methods you learned while working with me!
Ready to leave your imposter syndrome behind?
Let's work together! I'll help you (re)discover your self-worth, confidence and amazing qualities.
Quick Confidence Check-up
One coaching call (90 minutes) in which we discuss a specific (work-related) situation or series of events A recording of the coaching call
Positive Professional Program
Free and non-binding introduction call 5 coaching calls (90 minutes each) When needed, reminders and check-ins per email or WhatsApp Optional: Recording of the coaching calls
I do need you to know, that besides the financial investment, you’ll also need to invest your time and energy to get where you wanna go.
Not what you had in mind?
Please contact me 📧
We can create a tailor-made package together!
All there's left for you to do now, is choosing
❌ You can continue to let your self-doubt and fears decide how you run your business – with loads of worrying, stress and anxiety…
✅ OR you can teach yourself a healthy and productive mindset that will enable you to live up to your true potential.
❌ You can continue to hold yourself back, to play it safe and to keep your business small with little or no growth…
✅ OR you can learn to trust in yourself and your abilities and become the confident and successful business owner you deserve to be!
The choice is yours. What your business looks like 6 months from now, will be a result of what you choose to do today. So tell me, how do you want to live your life?
Questions? I got answers!
I like the Chinese proverb: ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now’.
Sometimes we keep putting things off because it never seems to be the “perfect time.” Chances are, the perfect moment will never come. So you might as well start now 🙂
We first schedule a free, no-obligation introductory call. If we both feel good about it, I’ll send you a coaching contract, which will include your specific goals, and will make sure we both adhere to our agreement.
After that, we’ll get started right away. I’ll provide you with exercises, questions and possibly practical assignments that you’ll mostly do in between our meetings, so we can discuss them during the sessions. For the success of my program, it is essential to also work on building your self-esteem outside our meetings and to stay consistent.
At the beginning, middle and end of the program I’ll ask you to complete an evaluation to monitor your progress and how satisfied you are with the program and my support.
Each call lasts 60 – 90 minutes, depending on how much time we need. I always schedule the meetings for 90 minutes, as it is my experience we need that time 🙂 The free and non-binding introduction takes 30 minutes.
I recommend scheduling a meeting every 2 weeks. This generally will give you enough time to fulfil the assignments. If it doesn’t, of course we can come to a different agreement.
During the sessions, we agree on what each of us will prepare for the next one. For you, this will include a reflection on the session we just had, as well as assignments and possibly practical exercises as part of the program. Those will be tailored to your specific goal and situation.
Can’t finish the assignments before our next call? Don’t worry! Let me know as soon as possible (max. 48 hours in advance), and we can arrange something else.
Our calls will take place via a video calling tool. I’ll send you an invite well ahead.
I absolutely think you can! And if you know what you’re doing and are disciplined enough to do so, you have my full support! There are plenty of books, blogs, videos, ect. that can help you to overcome your imposter syndrome. But in my experience it helps enormously:
- To have someone that helps you to keep working on it and be consistent.
- To have someone who asks you the questions you can’t come up with yourself.
- To use a program that has shown its effectiveness before. It may take some time to find the right method and exercises, let alone how to make them work for YOU. And that’s something I can help you with. I have the proper coaching materials, expertise and experience so you don’t have to completely re-invent the wheel.
In general, a psychologist focuses more on severe psychological problems and traumas from the past, while a coach focuses more on personal development, the here and now and the future.
For example, as long as you do not suffer from severe psychological problems, and your low self-esteem isn’t the result of complicated, unresolved traumas, you can contact a coach to work on your self-image and imposter syndrome.
During our introduction call, I will ask you questions to determine whether my program and service fit your needs. If I think a psychologist is better suited to help you, I will tell you.
That’s absolutely possible! But in order to determine whether I can actually help you with your problem, I do ask you to roughly explain in advance what you want to talk about. If it is not within my expertise, or if I think I’m not the right coach for you, I will be honest about that. I want you to be helped well, even if it’s not coming from me 🙂
Yes, that’s possible! After our introduction, if we have decided to work together, I will ask you whether you would like to receive the investment in 1 or 3 invoices.
Precisely for that reason, I am giving you the option to pay in installments.
Do you have more doubts? Please send me a message.
Have I not answered your question, or would you like more information?
Please let me know!
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