Navigating Fear and Judgment to Unlock Growth with Clare Sutton | EP281
"When someone judges you, it isn’t actually about you. It’s about them and their own insecurities, limitations, and needs." - Lulu.
EP 281
In the latest episode of the Mindset & Action Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Clare Sutton, an accredited mindset coach for small business owners. Clare’s mission is to support passionate entrepreneurs in overcoming mental roadblocks such as self-doubt, perfectionism, and lack of confidence—barriers that often prevent them from fully thriving in their businesses. It was an illuminating discussion, filled with insights for those struggling with their own inner critic.
We kicked off by diving straight into Clare’s personal experience with self-doubt and fear of judgment, challenges that have shadowed her for as long as she can remember. Despite her successes in academics and career, she constantly felt the weight of not being "good enough." This anxiety stifled her voice, preventing her from contributing and pursuing ideas she was genuinely excited about. Clare’s candid recount of how this mindset almost silenced her ambitions resonated deeply with me and, I’m sure, with many listeners.
Clare shared that when she embarked on her business journey, she initially believed that eradicating all negative thoughts and achieving perpetual confidence were essential for success. This led her down a path of endless affirmations and lists designed to convince herself of her worth. However, she soon realised that this approach didn’t work. The expectation of maintaining unwavering positivity was, in itself, a trap that led her back into the cycle of self-blame whenever doubt resurfaced.
The pivotal moment for Clare came with the realisation that these challenging thoughts weren’t the enemy. Instead, the true issue was allowing them to dictate her actions. She learned that accepting and holding space for difficult feelings—without letting them take control—was the key to breaking free. This revelation brought a sense of liberation, showing that progress doesn’t require perfection but rather the courage to act despite discomfort.
One point Clare made, which I found particularly powerful, was that feeling uncertain or anxious isn’t a sign of failure; it’s part of being human. It’s a natural response, a relic of our survival instincts. By reframing these feelings as signals rather than stop signs, Clare has been able to move forward with greater self-compassion and resilience. This mindset shift allowed her to stop battling her thoughts and instead work with them, creating a more sustainable and authentic path forward.
To all my listeners, Clare’s journey is a reminder that the goal isn’t to banish self-doubt but to learn to coexist with it in a way that doesn’t hinder our actions. As business owners, it’s vital to embrace our imperfections and continue taking steps, even when confidence isn’t fully present. Clare’s story is proof that by shifting our approach and nurturing a bit more self-compassion, we can achieve lasting change and growth.
Don’t forget to join us for a full conversation in Thursday’s episode, where Clare and I break down the essentials of coaching—what it really means, why it’s valuable, and how to find the right coach for you. Trust me, it's a session you won’t want to miss!
Bye For Now!
Show notes Links
Reshma Commencement speech Imposter Syndrome
CONNECT WITH Clare
Website https://www.claresuttoncoaching.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/claresuttoncoaching/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/claresuttoncoaching/
'We can Do Hard Things' by Glennon Doyle.
FREE 3 Part Audio How to Build Your Authority With Podcasting - Access Here
MIC ACTION PODCAST Spotify or Podchaser
Apply to work with Donna and Start Your Podcast
Read from my Book Shelf & My Guests Book Shelf
Access my FREE Masterclass Understanding the Power of Podcasting ~ Register Here
Support the show - Buy me a cuppa
Join me on insta @donna_eade_
Join the Pod Squad group on FB in the podcast group
Want to Guest? Apply here >>FORM
Want to learn how to land more guest appearances and turn them into ultimate lead generators for you? Check out Hell Yes Guest Here
Products/Services I recommend:
FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system
For graphics Canva
For Email Convert Kit
Want to grow your Email List check out List Builders Society I have LBS and I thoroughly enjoyed working through this course
Want to start a podcast take the QUIZ and find out which show type would best suit you.
Edited and produced by Donna Eade
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links above may be affiliate links which means I might earn a small commission if you choose to buy at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support 😊
Join the Facebook Group to continue the conversation or Join the PodSquad notification crew for email updates
