HOW THE ‘FATHER WOUND’ HOLDS WOMEN BACK IN BUSINESS (AND HOW TO HEAL)

When it comes to business success, we as entrepreneurs know that mindset plays a massive role. Confidence, self-worth, and the ability to take risks all influence how far an entrepreneur or professional can go.

But what if these feelings and qualities feel difficult to access? For many women, the struggle to achieve success, and feel worthy of it when they actually achieve it, is deeply connected to an unresolved father wound.

This is often, but not always, accompanied by an equally unresolved mother wound, but I’ll talk about this in a later blog.

The father wound refers to the negative effects and emotional scars left by an absent, neglectful, critical, or emotionally unavailable father figure. Whether through physical absence, lack of emotional support, or excessive criticism, a wounded father-daughter relationship can shape a woman’s subconscious beliefs about her value, her capabilities, and her ability to be successful.

This past lack of connection to a loving and supportive father can knock a woman’s whole sense of self at a foundational level.

These wounds often show up in relationships, life and work. In business they can present as limiting a woman’s ability to confidently own her space, charge her worth, and step into her full potential! (And to really feel fulfilled and worthy of the success she does achieve!)

And many women may experience the struggles but may not be fully aware of what is causing them, as they tend to be rooted in the subconscious mind.

1. Struggle with Self-Worth and Impostor Syndrome

   Many of us with a father wound struggle to internalize our achievements. We may feel like frauds, even when we are highly skilled and experienced. This can lead to chronic overworking, undercharging, or avoiding opportunities due to a deep-seated belief that we are not truly capable or deserving.

2. Fear of Authority and Struggles with Leadership

   If we grew up with a controlling or overly critical father, we may find it difficult to assert ourselves in professional spaces. We might shy away from leadership roles or avoid confrontation, fearing disapproval or failure. This can limit our career advancement or business growth, as leadership requires confidence in our own decisions and choices. We may also have a fear of people in authority which can also present challenges.

3. People-Pleasing and Over-Giving

   Many of us felt that we had to earn our father’s love or approval, and we may carry that pattern into business. This can look like overdelivering for clients, undercharging for services, or avoiding setting firm boundaries. The deep need to be liked and validated can prevent us from making empowered, strategic business decisions.

4. Fear of Visibility and Playing Small

   The father wound can create a subconscious fear of being seen or judged. We may hesitate to market ourselves, put our work out there, or step into bigger opportunities because of an internalized fear of rejection or failure. We might unconsciously hold ourselves back, staying in safe, familiar territory rather than taking the bold steps needed for growth.

5. Difficulty with Money and Financial Success

   Our relationship with a father figure often influences how we perceive money and financial security. If our father was financially unstable, overly controlling with money, or absent altogether, we may struggle with feeling safe when earning, saving, or investing. We may unconsciously sabotage financial success by avoiding financial management, underpricing our services, or not asking for what we deserve.

6. Excessive Independence & Not Asking for Support

   We may believe that we have to do it all ourselves and feel silently resentful when we don’t get help. However, we’re not actually asking for help because it’s such an unfamiliar ask for us that we automatically assume we won’t receive it. This is a very male-centered energy that many of us with the father wound tend to inhabit—without even realizing it!

7. Seeking Validation from External Achievement

   Many of us are so driven to achieve because we seek validation from external accomplishments and others’ approval. We may feel like whatever we achieve is never enough, pushing ourselves harder and harder, even to the brink of burnout! It’s like we’re trying to fill an emptiness inside, but with the wrong thing—something that will never truly work.

Healing the father wound is a deeply personal process, but it is essential for sustainable and fulfilling success. In my experience doing this ‘work’ impacts many areas of a woman’s life not just business. Healing your father wound can ripple out and increase your sense of self trust, happiness, peace of mind and relationships too.

The following steps are not a ‘one and done’ solution. But a process. They may need to be revisited a few times before they are resolved. Often the support and guidance of a therapist is advised as it can be an emotional journey, but so worthwhile!

 Here are some steps to begin that healing journey:

1. Acknowledge and Identify the Wound

   The first step is recognizing how the father wound has influenced your mindset and behaviors. Reflect on patterns in your business—where do you feel stuck, unworthy, or fearful?

2. Rewire Limiting Beliefs

   Journaling, therapy, and mindset work can help reframe limiting beliefs around worthiness, self trust, success, and possible issues with authority figures. Hypnotherapy and subconscious reprogramming techniques can be especially effective in shifting deep-seated beliefs formed in childhood.

3. Build Self-Validation and Inner Confidence

   Instead of seeking external validation (from clients, colleagues, or authority figures), practice affirming your own worth. It’s important to celebrate small wins, recognize your expertise, and remind yourself that you are enough—just as you are.

4. Practice Setting Boundaries and Owning Your Power

   Begin setting healthy boundaries in your business, whether that means saying no to clients who undervalue your work or confidently stating your prices without apology. Stepping into your power fully, requires trusting that you deserve respect and success.

5. Embrace Visibility and Take Bold Action

   Commit to showing up fully in your business, even when it feels uncomfortable. Whether it’s launching that offer, speaking on a stage, or raising your rates, being willing to be visible is crucial to the success of your business.

6. Surround Yourself with Supportive People

   Seek out mentors, coaches, or a community of women who uplift and support you. Healthy role models and supportive relationships can help rewrite feelings around trust, confidence and self-worth.

The father wound can deeply impact our ability to achieve success and feel worthy of it, but this can change!

By acknowledging these patterns and actively working to heal, we as women can step into our power, fully trust ourselves.

This inner work, whilst it may not be easy, is so worthwhile. Facing the uncomfortable can free us of the underpinning anxiety and negative ‘mind drama’ and help us to build the thriving careers or businesses we desire with the peace of mind that we fully deserve.

As I’ve already mentioned, healing isn’t just for success in business—it goes much deeper than that. Healing this fundamental disconnection with a parent can be life altering in lots of ways.

We delve into the subconscious blocks and heal them at the root inside my powerful 1:1 program The Achievement Wound™️ Healing Method.

I have personal experience of being in business for many years (and experiencing all of the mindset issues and pitfalls) and also have healed my own ‘father wound’.

Do you recognize some of these wounds and their effects in yourself?