courage

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August 31, 2022

Why We Reject Ourselves Before Anyone Else Does

Many opportunities disappear long before someone tells us "no." We assume the answer will be no. We assume people won't help. We assume exceptions won't be made. We assume asking would be awkward, selfish, or uncomfortable. As a result, we quietly reject ourselves before anyone else gets the chance. One conversation during a trip to Catalina Island reminded me how often we lose opportunities not because we asked and failed, but because we never asked at all.

September 21, 2019

Why Creative People Hold Themselves Back

Most people do not struggle with a lack of potential. They struggle with a lack of willingness to share it. We hold ourselves back all the time. We stay quiet when we should speak up. We keep ideas to ourselves that could help other people. We hide creative work because we fear criticism. We convince ourselves our writing, art, business idea, or contribution is not quite ready yet. On the surface, holding back appears to be a confidence problem. In reality, it is often a fear problem. Fear of rejection. Fear of failure. Fear of standing out. Fear of discovering what happens when we finally put ourselves out there. The tragedy is that the gifts, ideas, and experiences we withhold cannot help anyone while they remain hidden. Creativity only creates value when it moves beyond the creator and into the world.