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Hey Reader,

Last Wednesday, I sat at my kitchen table, phone screen open, screen view flipped so all I saw was my own face staring blankly back at me like I’d walked into a surprise performance review with myself.

I needed to record a video for a new podcast I was going to appear on talking about finding your path as a new entrepreneur–something energetic, inviting, purposeful.

But instead of charm, I served up frozen silence. It was like watching a low-budget hostage video. Every blink felt awkward. Every pause, painfully loud.
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Thoughts spun:
​Is this my face?
Why is my eyebrow doing that? ​
What if they see right through me?

My heart drummed in my ears.

With each passing minute, I felt smaller–like I’d shrunk to the size of a tiny house plant with complex emotions.

I sipped my coffee, hoping the caffeine would kickstart my charisma. It didn’t.

Nothing.

The Messy → Magical Shift

I took a long, slow intentional deep breath.
Then something happened. I caught a flicker of curiosity beneath the fear.

Instead of pushing self-doubt away, I let it sit beside me–like a toddler having a meltdown at the grocery store.

I whispered, “Okay, you’re here. Let’s be real with each other for a moment.” And in that moment, I noticed I’d been waiting to feel ready to show up in video.
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As someone who prefers writing, it's a little like being asked to sing karaoke without knowing the song or the key... or how to sing.

I’d equated readiness with having zero nerves. But nerves are part of being brave and having the courage to show up imperfectly.

That was the shift: readiness isn’t feeling fearless—it’s leaning in despite the fear.

✨ 3 Ways to Quiet the Inner Critic and Keep Moving

1. Name the Voice​
Write down the self-doubt voice. Is it the critic that says, “You’re not good enough”?
Is it the comparison gremlin whispering, “Who are you next to [that person]?”
Naming it—“Oh, hi there, Comparison Carla”—gives you distance. It’s just a voice, not you. Personally, I named mine Pia, for Pain In the Ass. Choose your own adventure, do you. But naming it creates separation between it, and you.

2. Give It Context​
Ask: Where does this voice come from? Often it stems from old stories—perfectionism messages from parents, spouses, school, or pressure-packed childhood expectations. When I traced mine, I realized I was still carrying an emotionally absent mum and the echo of my grade-school girlfriends, cornering me in the bathroom with harsh little whispers of ‘you’re not good enough.’ Understanding origins softens the weight.

3. Build the Bridge​
Create a practical action that leans forward anyway. For me, that meant recording a mini test-video for a trusted friend–in private. No edits, no perfection. Just me, flawed and real. That step shifted me from paralysis to momentum. It doesn’t have to be huge. Three sentences. A phone memo. A rough draft.
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A Spark of Inspiration:

Doubt doesn’t signal that you’re unqualified—it signals that you’re growing.

That friction is part of stepping into new terrain.

The next time your inner critic pipes up, try thinking: “Cool, this means I’m on the edge of something meaningful.” And instead of pausing, lean into curiosity: What would the future me thank me for doing right now?

💬 Your Turn​
Take a moment to sit with your self‑doubt. Notice what it sounds like, where it lives in your body, and what story it tells.
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Then, with compassion and curiosity, do one small thing despite that doubt. What did your self‑doubt say? And what did you choose to do anyway?

Reply and tell me. I’d love to hear how you overcame an ego gremlin this week.

To more clarity, confidence, and ease—one messy step at a time.
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Grateful for you. Thank you for being here! I want you to know I'm proud of you for continuing to learn, and I believe you have what it takes to make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality.

If this resonated, share it with a friend who might find it helpful.
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Rebecca Eve Studios 3300 NW 185th Ave Suite 1014, Portland, Oregon, 97229
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