September began with numerous challenges. My inspiration is blocked, and I'm struggling to express my feelings. My business is growing slowly, and I know that results don't always reflect value. It's disheartening to pour your heart into your work with little to show for it. You see your family urging you to work harder, unaware of your daily efforts to grow your business.
I recognize my tendency to self-sabotage through overthinking, but I'm determined to create my dream business despite the difficulties. The real issue is my fear of sharing my knowledge and experiences. I've always felt that what I know is never enough. Expressing myself is a constant struggle; I've learned to silence my voice, believing it's my safe place. I fear that speaking my truth will drive people away or reveal my perceived inadequacies.
However, I've realized that continuing this way only nurtures my lack of self-esteem. Many believe that business success is purely about strategy, but scaling a business is more about embracing personal transformation. It's about repeating what you believe, even when you've been conditioned to please others, stay quiet, or suppress your feelings when hurt.
What pushed me to put others on a pedestal, admiring them living their dreams, was staying in a mental space I created to fit into the world. Now, I feel trapped in a gilded cage.
It's a choice to continue behaving the same way or to recognize that your voice matters. It's scary, but you must ask yourself if your current life fulfills you. In reality, we fear showcasing our knowledge because we dread the unknown and judgment. Let's be honest: you know what you're capable of; you're just afraid of the consequences because you've learned not to shine.
The goal isn't perfection or oversharing; it's creating a life and business you're proud of. I can guarantee that spending all day overthinking your work, trying to find the perfect hook or framework, is exhausting. It only attracts people interested in your offer or niche, not in you. You want to build a ride-or-die community that supports you no matter what, whether you pivot or launch a new product. To achieve this, you must step out of your comfort zone and learn to express yourself by giving yourself permission to fail, to repeat yourself, to be misunderstood, and to be seen.
Thank you for taking the time to read my work, if you want to support my work :
What an incredible
Article. 💕I really felt like you were writing about me. Which means you are writing about us all.
I bet if you asked 10 successful substackers they all feel the same way.
Why do we care so much about how others rate us judge us accept us. Omg.
It’s time to be done with that. That is my 62/63 year old self talking, so so so tired of us judging ourselves
Like we are others.
I pressed the eject button on what my family said to me for years and then continued by saying it to myself over again. No more. Time for
Change.
You are very clear. I love my guilded cage. Yea it’s safe. Yea it’s comfy. We have made it that way just for us.
Every time I try and leave I can’t wait to go home where I am happy talented and popular with myself hahaha
Thanks for the article. Looking forward to more. I would love to write but pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to press send 😅😎