NEXT: A Little Guide About Moving Forward from Imposter Syndrome, Fear, Perfectionism, and Certainty

By Karen E. Cooper with Biblical Stories by Joseph M. Sturgeon

Negative self-talk, misguided self-worth, and a controlled mindset keep us stagnant in life. I think having biblically encouraged solutions to employ, permission to open yourself up to faith, and a community for encouragement will drive forward growth, contentment in one's life, and an abundance mindset professionally and personally. Next: A Little Guide about Moving Forward from Imposter Syndrome, Fear, Perfectionism, and Certainty is a way to combine expert research, personal experiences, exercises, ideas, and God's desired journey into actionable discoveries to work through. I look at imposter syndrome, perfectionism, fear, and certainty from personal storytelling, interviews, research, and biblical stories. This book is about solutions and empowering each reader to go step-by-step in their journey to becoming more self-aware and prayerfully realized.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888517505

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: My Why

From a Light Dimmed to a Deserving Peace

Chapter 2: Your Why

Be Encouraged

Chapter 3: The Triggers in Our Way

Chapter 4: Discover the Way Forward

Conclusion

About the Authors

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NEXT: A Little Guide About Moving Forward from Imposter Syndrome, Fear, Perfectionism, and Certainty

Karen E. Cooper with Biblical Stories by Joseph M. Sturgeon

ISBN 979-8-88851-749-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88851-750-5 (Digital)

Copyright © 2023 Karen E. Cooper

All rights reserved

First Edition

All biblical citations were taken from New International Version (NIV) Bible unless otherwise indicated.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Preface

In 2010, I found myself deep in the valley. I can't even say that I was wandering in the valley. I was face down, not moving, curled up in the valley. I was stuck in a journey of sameness—bitterness, hurt, martyrdom, confusion. I was riddled with debt, caring for a toddler, hurt by an indifferent and dispassionate husband, and my career stalled out, I was letting petty words from a coworker influence me, and I was working up the courage to ask for a divorce.

During that time, I was genuinely crying out to God for help. But what I didn't realize then, and what was surely part of God's journey to break me down to build me up, was forcing my will and my way of thinking. I was forcing my plans and my hopes. There was a whole lot of my in God's plan. I just kept going because giving up was unthinkable.

Then I heard a friend say around that time that sometimes in life, it's not about giving up. It's about letting go. So I did.

I let go of my expectations of a perfect life. I let go of my desire for having it all, healthy and balanced and worthwhile. I let go of thinking in scarcity, getting up every morning just trying to put on a happy face and get through the day without sinking deeper into the shadows of the valley.

What's even sadder is that I didn't really share with anyone what I was going through. That's where my martyrdom came in. I suffered in silence, thinking I could will everything right again. I prayed, of course. And obviously, God let me down. I had prayed for that marriage, and I was certain that I heard Him tell me to go ahead.

So I let go.

Ironically, I held onto this belief that I could still will things into perfection or even just the way I wanted them to be. I became a single mom. I enrolled in grad school. I dated, a lot. Then my dad got sick. This strong force in my life withered away within months. Three years after my marriage was taken away, so was my dad.

I found myself brokenhearted and scared; however, I still put one foot in front of the other.

And everything was miraculously better. Just kidding. That's what I would have loved to happen. But life and faith are not like that. A major pivotal moment didn't just happen. Each day, my worship changed. My prayers deepened. My steps became surer in my walk with God.

I started researching this thing called the imposter syndrome. I started finding out about perfectionism and, most importantly, imperfection. I worked on my need for certainty, and my sometimes, all-encompassing fear.

My God-given—and Christ-led—journey took shape step by step.

My favorite word for the past handful of years has been next. Why? Because in everything I do, I want to be moving to the next step, the next raise, the next volunteer opportunity, the next way to be God's light in someone's dark world.

And that's why I wrote this book. I could have just researched for myself, but I wanted to share what I learned in hopes of helping others who want to move forward from the triggers and challenges that hold us back. Since I had a hard time finding one source that drew all the triggers together with a view of what the Bible has to say, I thought, Well, self, why don't you write it?

More accurately, God whispered, Well, Karen, why don't you write it?

God had to have given me the idea because as soon as I had it, imposter syndrome set in, and I thought, Gross…who am I to write about this? I'm not a scholar or a doctor or a theologian. But I started one step at a time.

During the beginning steps of my research and authorship, I decided to move to Michigan from Texas with my daughter. That move in 2020 changed everything for me. Not only did we start going to a new church with my dear friend Aaron, but Aaron and I started dating with intention and purpose. This is also the time I met Joe Sturgeon and his family.

The house I bought just so happened to be six houses down from Joe's, the youth and associate pastor of our church, the same Joe who partnered with me on this guide to show us how imposter syndrome, fear, perfectionism, and certainty were all present in the Bible. Joe shows us that these challenges existed long before us. God was present in our triggers then, and He's present in them now.

After reading all that, can you tell me that those steps from Texas to Michigan were not guided by God? I was terrified, but I had this hunger and drive to take unsure steps. So I did.

I got to know Joe and his family and spent time playing euchre (although I still prefer Texas hold 'em), getting to know them, having girls' night with Lynne (Joe's silk-pajama-loving wife—she'll appreciate that), hearing him speak, and realizing we had very similar outlooks on life.

That leads us here, this little guide guided by my journey from the valley to the peak and all the steps up and down, back and forth, that it takes.

As you read, we will take a look at my why, dig into your why and reasoning for reading this guide, then go into a deeper dive into the triggers themselves. And finally, I'll walk you through five discoveries I found that have helped me—and continue to help me daily—release myself from a stagnant life to a life in action.

Please join me on this journey because walking alone