What you see is what you get

Writers block can be a powerful nocebo for the writer who’s uncomfortable with publishing bad ideas.

And the myth of the struggling artist can be a supportive crutch for the artist unwilling to pick themselves.

The same can be said for all the people who think they're no good at math, can’t dance, or aren’t creative. Saying “I’m not built that way” is self-reassuring as much as it is self-sabotaging.

The converse is also true.

Believing you can (despite no actual evidence) can be a powerful antidote against self-doubt.

And “acting as if” can often be a sure-fire route to building the credibility, confidence and feedback cycles you need to thrive.

If your narrative or posture doesn’t serve you, change it.