The Simple Mind is a newsletter to help you reduce overthinking and boost self-confidence - Reading time: 2min.

One perspective for you

It’s not about what they’ll say, it’s about what your inner critic is saying. Read that again.

You gotta give it to your inner critic, it’s smart.

For the sake of this example, let’s say you’re afraid people will perceive you as lazy, or not hard-working enough. As a consequence, you barely take time off, have unrealistic standards when it comes to answering to messages or producing.

Your inner critic could use the most straightforward way, called negative self-talk, and simply have that inner conversation calling you lazy to your face (or I guess to your mind). The problem with this approach is you can dissociate from your inner critic, and challenge that assumption, with rationality.

Now, when your inner critic takes on the mask of someone else’s opinion, you’re slower to dismantle it. A new level of panic is added, it’s not you vs you, it’s you vs others. Your mind does not make the difference between reality and your thoughts, so suddenly, what you assume other people think, goes from an assumption to feeling like a reality.

You’re problem-solving mind jumps to fix mode: how to course correct what people think of you (really, what you think of you). Fixing mode means no questioning the first assumption, and down the rabbit hole you go.

So, dear readers, here’s a perspective for you: Whatever you are afraid people will think, is a projection of your own judgement.

One nudge for you

This week, take a moment to observe moments where you put judgment in other people’s mouths.

Ask yourself, says who?

One event for you

Do you feel like an imposter some days? Like you lucked out and people may find out you’re not that good?

Then, I have the perfect conversation for you: Indeed’s online event on overcoming self-doubt and building confidence in the workplace.

I’ll be a panelist on this event along with Indeed Career Strategist Brighid Power, Career and Leadership Coach Tristan Thornburgh, and TEDx Speaker and Global Corporate Trainer Brittany Dawson.

It’s on December 12th, at 7 PM CET, sign up here!

If you’re new here, welcome! I’m Orianne, I share weekly tools to help you reduce overthinking and boost your self-confidence.

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