Breaking free from doubt and limiting beliefs
Business is often painted as a battlefield where only the strongest survive. But what if business wasn’t about competition, proving yourself, or working harder? What if it was about choosing, creating, and allowing your unique way of doing things to shape success on your terms?
In a recent conversation with women navigating their careers and businesses, a common thread emerged: doubt. The hesitation about whether they were making the right choice, whether they should be further along, or whether they were doing it “right”. These doubts can keep us from being present and seeing the possibilities right in front of us.
The lie of “Not good enough”
Many women have internalized the belief that they are not as competent in business as they should be. Historically, women have been told they are good at nurturing, caring, and supporting, but not at leading, strategizing, or making money. This is one of the biggest lies we’ve been taught.
It’s time to let go of this false belief. The real issue isn’t capability, actually it’s the conditioning that tells us to second-guess ourselves.
Are you asking questions or stuck in doubt?
Doubt can masquerade as questioning. Instead of being in the energy of curiosity and exploration, many find themselves stuck in a loop of “Did I make the wrong choice?” or “Should I be doing something different?”
The difference? A question opens up possibilities. Doubt shuts them down.
What if you let go of the idea that success should look a certain way by a certain time? Some things happen quickly, and some unfold over years. Your job is not to control the timeline but to stay in action and trust your process.
The trap of playing small
Many women hold themselves back, afraid of standing out too much, making too much money, or becoming too visible. Why? Because standing out often means judgment. It means being labeled as too much, too intense, too aggressive.
How many times have you heard, “You’re too ambitious,” or “You’re too emotional” when making decisions in business?
What if your intensity isn’t aggression but confidence? What if your directness isn’t rudeness but clarity? And what if every time someone judged you for your success, you allowed it to fuel you rather than shrink you?
Redefining business on your terms
Business doesn’t have to be done the way others do it. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership, creativity, and success. Instead of imitating outdated models, ask yourself:
- What is my way of working and creating?
- What if I stopped trying to make my work fit someone else’s expectations?
- What if I let things be easier?
Success doesn’t require struggle. The more you lean into your unique strengths, the more flow you create.
Stop waiting, start leading
A common fear among women is competition between women; that someone will steal their ideas, copy their work, or undercut their success. But avoiding growth to prevent competition is like refusing to shine to avoid casting a shadow.
Chanel once said, “If you’re willing to be great, you have to be willing to be copied.’ Just to say that while you’re being copied, you then can also enjoy it.
Also… Instead of getting caught up in what others are doing, what if you let every challenge, every moment of doubt, and every bit of resistance inspire you to move forward?
Even if people are judgmental, competitive, or dismissive, you don’t have to let it stop you. Use it. Learn from it. Let it strengthen you.
The Ladies Club: After a wonderful launch call I did on the 8th of March, I will be facilitating an online Ladies Club from April onwards. A space where women can explore any topic they desire, beyond just business. Whether it’s relationships, personal growth, creativity, or finding ease in daily life, this is a place where we can have real conversations about what matters.
If you’re ready to stop playing small and start stepping fully into your own path, whatever that looks like, this is your invitation. The world needs women who show up as themselves, unapologetically.
Kalpana Raghuraman is an advanced facilitator with the modality Access Consciousness, a published author and scholar. She is also artistic director of her own dance company, Kalpanarts.
