My Story…Why the Program
When I was called to my Purpose, it was back in 1998, while living in Boise Idaho, and yes, I said Idaho! I was serving in ministry in “Abundant Life Christian Fellowship Church”. We would have Women’s Fellowship meetings and they would be so powerful! I would sit and listen to their stories, their testimonies, their trials and the circumstances that they were believing God to bring them through. The reason this is important is because I was one of those women that vehemently did not like WOMEN! I always felt that women were catty, full of drama, gossipers and mostly back bitters. I wanted nothing to do with them and was perfectly fine hanging out with the fellas. What I began to learn and see in these sessions was women interacting with one another in a different way. They were loving, supportive and trusting. Think about how hard it must have been to come to some of those meetings and pour out your heart in tears just seeking understanding and comfort. I saw how God, through these women facilitated healing in ways that I had never imagined or seen. I saw them and became a part of women walking in a newness of and a more “Abundant Life”. I allowed myself to give in and trust as well and my life has never been the same. I don’t say this lightly because there were still many struggles and growing pains along the way, but I am immensely thankful for the experience and the growth and transformation to my life.
I tell you this story because there were things about myself that I had become self-aware of even back then. I was an Imposter and didn’t even know it. In those meetings I always played it small. Served others and encouraged them to be great while all along, overlooking my own greatness. It would be the leaders of the group that would stretch me and make me accountable to the gifts and calling that they could see but had still not sank into my psyche. You see that is the very essence of being an Imposter, you can’t see your true self through the truth lens that others see you. Because of this, we tend to think that others see us the way we see ourselves, as small, unworthy, fearful and lacking in confidence. We put on a good face, and we accomplish great things, but at the end of the day we still feel inferior to others and like we are a fraud.
I have come to learn that the Imposter in me was planted there in my childhood. The voices of those around me that always affirmed what I couldn’t do versus what I could do. CRITICISM that was DESTRUCTIVE rather than CONSTRUCTIVE became my inner voice and when coupled with my ego, began to be a driving force in my life that would cause me to begin hiding. I hid in the military, in a bad marriage, in unhealthy friendships (because I made my girlfriends the sisters I always wanted, (more on that later), I hid on a job that I absolutely hated, I hid in school, I hid in church, I hid as a mother, I hid in helping other people realize their dreams, goals and intentions. and I hid just for the sake of hiding because I had allowed FEAR to keep me in a chokehold and quiet my desires to accept and walk in my Divine Purpose. I often found myself working in high stress jobs that demanded everything from me. I would be completely spent but I kept pushing. I would work long hours and high production rates but at the end of the day, no accolades for achievement, and passed over for promotions and raises. Speaking with my supervisor for clarity as to why I wasn’t being promoted, I was often met with his complaints that even though I’d accomplished the goal there were items that were overlooked making me feel again unworthy and having to constantly work harder to prove myself to be considered for the next opportunity. I found it harder to set boundaries as the stress of being expected to be on call 24 hours with little support or privacy intensified what I now know as my Imposter Syndrome. I became very cautious and fearful of criticism that would be doled out openly in staff and board meetings, and subsequently would try to fly under the radar or fade into the background.
I allowed FEAR to talk me out of so many opportunities because I was afraid to show up. Afraid to speak what was on my mind and afraid to be the real me. I allowed feelings of unworthiness to give me an excuse to quit or not even try. I like to refer to this cycle as me “fighting for my limitations”. Yes, you read that right, I was Fighting for My Limitations. Giving in to my dominant negative thought patterns to keep me in a constant cycle of ruminating over thoughts like, “Who do you think you are?” “Who is going to listen to you?” “Why should anyone listen to you anyway?” and “What are you going to say to them?” This led to more hiding and procrastination to getting done what I knew I was called and purposed to do. See the problem with all this is, when you have a vision, and you know your purpose you almost always with have to confront your demons within. If you don’t, you won’t give meaning to the dash. Oh, you know the dash, the cemetery is full of them! What did you do with all that God had given you, did you make your life matter? Or does the dash represent all the time you spent being stuck at the stop of negative thinking and hiding? I knew for me, I was more Powerful than my thoughts and that if I didn’t make the change, I would be one of those meaningless dashes whose gifts, calling and talents died inside me. I had to be Authentically Me! I have learned that I am the co-creator of my Destiny because my Creator has already made it so! I just have to align my will with His will, step into His timing and walk this thing out!
I am telling you this story because I want you to know that being an Imposter not only steals your voice, but it steals your JOY, PEACE and your LIFE! Imagine living in this cycle for years on end and never accomplishing anything that you intend to. No one has ever been blessed by our intentions, they are blessed by what we do and the impact that we leave on their lives. I want you to know that I See you Sis! I have met so many women who have played it small, stand on the sidelines cheering others on all while denying her own GREATNESS. Making excuses for not living in our Passion, Purpose or Power! We get in our heads and we continue to suffer! We say that we don’t know our purpose, but in fact we have just surrendered to our dominate negative thoughts, false perceptions of self and fear of failing. We won’t ask for help when help is needed and we cry silent tears, fight feelings of unworthiness, live as a shell of ourselves, and the cycle continues.
I created the Value of a Woman Coaching Program because I no longer wanted to see women playing small and to create an environment for women to come together in a sisterhood to uplift one another, instill Values, increase their Worth so that they may also Influence others! I believe that when women love themselves and each other that there is a synergy of healing that happens. They come into their own and live in their Power, Purpose and Passion! When that happens, they transform their families, friends and the world around them. The Value of a Woman empowers women through spiritual growth, sisterhood, accountability, love and a safe no judgement environment. The Value of a Woman, “Removing the Mask, Uncovering Your Inner Imposter”, Coaching Program is a 6-to-12-week intensive program (online and in person) that will help you take a deeper dive inside to uncover your inner imposter so that you can remove your mask and live a truly authentic live, heal from your past, become AWARE of your dominant negative thought patterns, ACKNOWLEDGE how they are operating in your life, ACCEPT and take responsibility for how you have allowed your thoughts to create behaviors that may have caused negative outcomes in your life and finally create an ACTION plan to advance you in your healing and spiritual growth process.
Six women meet weekly, in an empowering sisterhood to discuss their life visions, goals, desires and areas in their lives where they may need support. Six women who will help you to become laser-focused on achieving your goals, hold you accountable, brainstorm with you, support you, pray for and with you, become your best friends, listen to you, share with you, love YOU and help you grow! They will not let you fall. Imagine six sisters whose goal is to help you to become the best possible you! Isn’t it time that you said yes! Yes, to getting help! Yes, to not do it alone. Say “YES”, TO YOU!
So many times, we do even ask for help, we sit alone, afraid of what others will think. But imagine having six women who are there for you! Your Cheerleaders and champions! Who will stand next to you and hold you up when you are weak! Who will pick you up and help you put the pieces back together when you are broken and have forgotten who you are! Imagine never having to do it alone because your sisters are there.
I can help you show you escape the grips of Impostor Syndrome, that keeps you hidden and afraid to live out loud and be your authentic self! To help you push through feelings of Anxiety that often comes with Perfectionism, Self-doubt and the Fear of Failing. I invite you, all that feel in their hearts and spirits that this story is your story, to bet on you and do whatever it takes for you to register and enroll in this program, I implore you to do what you must. This is an opportunity for you to join me and six other women as we embark on a new journey that will take you deep with yourself to uncover and discover your authentic self. A new journey to begin living in your Power, Passion & PURPOSE! To do what you must do so that you can stop hiding and begin living your life more fully and abundantly. To reclaim yourself and walk in the FREEDOM and ABUNDANCE that you deserve!
It is my hope that The Value of a Woman Coaching Program will help you uncover, the dominating negative thought patterns that have been holding you back and have kept you hiding behind a mask and releases you to become all that you are PURPOSED and DESTINED to be!
Everything you need is already inside of you. You hold the pen and have the Power to create or rewrite your story, rediscover and re-ignite your Passion so that you can walk in your predestined Purpose. You deserve to live a life of Abundance, it’s your birthright. I admonish you to push past your fears, quiet the negative voices in your head, DREAM big and live the life of your Dreams! Let the dash speak for you and don’t die with your gifts still inside of you.
I am Mischelle B. Sutton, your Purpose Coach and I believe in YOU!
