Many successful people secretly worry that they are not as capable as others believe them to be. This experience, commonly known as imposter syndrome, can create stress, anxiety, perfectionism, and a persistent fear of being “found out.”
Why So Many Women I See Feel They’re Not Good Enough!
Despite achievements and qualifications, individuals experiencing imposter syndrome often dismiss their successes and focus on perceived shortcomings.
These patterns are frequently linked to underlying beliefs about self-worth, success, or the need to prove oneself.
RTT™ can help uncover and transform these subconscious beliefs, allowing individuals to develop greater confidence, recognise their strengths, and embrace their achievements without constant self-criticism.
True confidence comes not from being perfect, but from trusting your own value and abilities.
There are credible studies showing that feelings related to “not being good enough,” low self-esteem, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome are extremely common, particularly among women. However, there isn’t one universal statistic for “not feeling good enough” because researchers measure related concepts such as self-esteem, body confidence, self-worth, and imposter syndrome.
Self-esteem and self-worth
A large international study found that only 4% of women worldwide described themselves as beautiful, and more than half (54%) said they are their own worst critic when it comes to their appearance.
This doesn’t directly measure “not feeling good enough,” but it highlights how common self-criticism and low self-worth can be among women.
Imposter syndrome and self-doubt
A survey of more than 8,000 professionals found that 70% of women had experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their careers, compared with 58% of men.
Body confidence and self-esteem
Research from the Dove Self-Esteem Project found that when girls don’t feel confident about their appearance:
- 8 in 10 avoid important life activities,
- 7 in 10 stop being assertive or speaking up,
- and 70% believe media and advertising set unrealistic beauty standards.
Many women, regardless of their achievements, carry an underlying belief that they’re not good enough. This can show up as self-doubt, anxiety, perfectionism, people-pleasing, low self-esteem, or imposter syndrome.
Feelings of self-doubt, low self-worth, and not being good enough are more common than many people realise. Research shows that a significant number of women struggle with self-esteem and self-criticism, while studies have found that up to 70% of professional women have experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their careers.
If this resonates with you, book a call with me to discuss how we can work together to change this!
