When Hillary Clinton gave her famous speech, giving up her historic bid for the White House she claimed she put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. Women still haven’t won the US Presidency but often the glass ceiling they struggle with most is an internal glass ceiling of their own making. Here’s to busting past your internal glass ceiling and beyond the fears that have held it in place.

1. Fear of Needing Permission: Taking risks means leaving your comfort zone and moving into your discovery zone. When you risk you’re at the limits of your "growing edge." Many women business owners look for someone to given them permission to take risks and succeed. You’ll bust past your internal glass ceiling when you stop looking for someone to give you permission and find the courage to chart your own course. How can you motivate yourself? Decide whether you want fear or success in your life. Fear contracts while success always expands and opens to more.

2. Fear of Failure: We need to redefine failure as a normal part of risking. Failure tells us to try a different approach... take a different step... talk to someone else... get information elsewhere. Failure is part of learning. Look at failure as an opportunity for growth as well as a signal that it’s time to look for a new way to solve problems.

3. Fear of Success: Success can block us because it often means making great changes. In a well-known study, a sociologist found women fear success because it often means losing important relationships. Developing a strong sense of confidence will help you be flexible and open to change including success. Open yourself to new relationships and everything positive success may bring.

4. Fear of Loss: Risking often means letting go. Subconsciously we may have free floating feelings about losing relationships, material things, employment and more when we think about busting past our internal glass ceiling. Trust the space you create due to a loss will attract new and better things. As one door closes another opens. Lessen your grip on the familiar and new opportunities more in alignment with who you are becoming will reveal themselves.

5. Fear of Loss of Self: Stepping out can change how you see yourself. This can be scary at first. Low self esteem can keep us clinging to an old sense of self. Keep building your self-esteem so you will have the courage to risk. Working together with a one-on-one mentor can help you in amazing ways.

6. Fear of the Unknown: Most of us feel comfortable with the familiar. At the same time, we’re also excited by change and the possibility that busting past our internal glass ceiling can create. Remember the thrill of adventure and know when you take a risk you develop stronger "risk muscles". Breaking through can help you transform your life and yourself into something much greater.

7. Fear of Adversity: Taking steps that are unfamiliar can create discomfort. We don’t wants to "rock the boat" so we avoid conflict staying safely below our internal glass ceiling. Paul Stoltz, in his book "Adversity Quotient", identifies people as: quitters, campers, and climbers. Quitters stop risking when they hit a challenge; campers risk a little longer but eventually camp out and remain in their comfort zone; climbers risk and grow throughout their lives. Which type are you?

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