Have you ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of self-criticism and defeat? You make a mistake, and suddenly you're drowning in negativity, convinced that you'll never be able to do better. One slip-up leads to another, and before you know it, you're feeling worse than ever.

 That inner voice, your own personal critic, is relentless. It's always there, ready to pounce on any mistake and tear you down with its hurtful words.

Inner Critic: 

• "You're never going to change." 
• "You're not good enough." 
• "You'll never get better."
• "You'll never get that job… you're not qualified enough."

When I was early in my career, I had an endless amount of confidence. If someone put something in front of me, I jumped in and tackled it quickly. If I was up for a promotion or a new position, I walked into the interview with unwavering clarity that I could take this next step.

But over the years, something changed. Challenges that once seemed conquerable now loomed larger than life, and my first instinct was to shrink away. It's not that I lack experience or knowledge—I've accumulated more skills in the past 20 years than I could have imagined. So why does confidence seem to have an inverse relationship with increased experience? Why do we doubt ourselves more as we gain more expertise?

I believe it's because the stakes feel higher now. With experience comes awareness of the potential consequences of failure. And as women, we've been taught to question ourselves, to second-guess our abilities and qualifications. The lies we've either been told or told ourselves over time have become ingrained in our minds, shaping the way we perceive ourselves and our capabilities.

When we were younger, we heard those negative voices and thought, "That can't possibly be true." But now, those negative soundtracks have become the background music to our lives. They play on repeat, eroding our confidence and holding us back from reaching our full potential.

You see - that nagging little enemy creeps into the nooks and crannies of our confidence and then expands to turn those nooks and crannies into craters… all without us even knowing it. It's a relentless force that seeks to undermine our confidence and keep us from realizing our true potential. 

 I recently started trying to make sourdough - truthfully… I haven't been successful yet, but you just wait. But anyone that knows anything about sourdough (which obviously isn't me), knows that the starter is the key. You have to feed the starter every day… sometimes multiple times a day. And the way it works is this - a tiny bit of starter gets fed some yummy flour and water… that starter (which is really just yeast) "eats" the flour + water and then doubles in size… without any real effort. 

That's how the enemy works in your life - without you even knowing it… it feeds off of the micro-failures. The time that you got feedback from a coworker or your spouse. The time a friend made a comment about your clothes. The time you tried to make sourdough and it turned out as a giant hockey puck of bread. THESE are the moments that are feeding your enemy. It's actually NOT the big events… it's the little ones that build up, without you even knowing it… those are food the enemy is praying on. And - whether you believe the enemy is Satan, or cosmic energy, or self-doubt… it doesn't matter. That enemy's goal is to hold you back from achieving your full potential… and, guess what… they're winning. That enemy is causing you to believe you are unworthy, or broken, that you will never be good enough… you will never achieve that promotion or goal.

Hey Enemy - get out of here. 

You might provoke, but I won't heed. You might try to prod, but I refuse to be manipulated. You might hurl insults, but I won't listen. 

Because here's the big truth - you are not an empty crater waiting to be filled with the enemy's definition of you. The enemy's voice, self-doubt, will convince you to quit, to give in, to give up - if you offer up the space in your life.

 But - you are not empty - you are a person full of potential, with a community of people who believe in you - your family, your friends, your coworkers… me.  

 So - your job is to protect that space with the vigor of a warrior. You see - when self-doubt or the enemy comes knocking… if the room is empty, there is plenty of space for them to fill up. But - when they come knocking and your space is filled with clarity and positivity - there's no room left for them. 

 And - this doesn't happen by accident… it happens by intention. The enemy is always at the door - trying to beat it down and get on in. And - when you know that and intentionally fill your mind and life with positivity and truth - to leave no openings for self-doubt or the enemy to creep in. You have no space for their suggestions, my friend.

 When I think about resiliency and how I process the "no's" or the "not nows," in my own world - I'm able to ground myself in the truth that has filled my space and my mind. The truth that what I'm created for is playing out in front of me exactly as it is meant to. The truth that I am made for this challenge - perfect and appropriately placed exactly where I am, when I am - in order to experience what's in front of me… regardless of how it turns out.

 When we ground our minds in THAT TRUTH - we stop worrying about the outcomes. We stop creating space for the enemy to take over, and we start believing that we are created for something bigger than ourselves.

 And - anytime I come across someone who is filled with doubt or fear, someone who gives up easily… I realize it's because the enemy has found space in their life and their mind… and he's been hanging out having a real party. What they need is more truth, more belief, more encouragement, more support… more community to barricade that door for them.

 As we draw this episode to a close, I want to leave you with a powerful reminder: you are not defined by the doubts or criticisms that echo in your mind. You are a vessel brimming with untapped potential, surrounded by a community of supporters who believe in your capabilities.

 Remember, resilience is not merely bouncing back from setbacks; it's rooted in anchoring yourself in the truth of your purpose and worth. Regardless of the outcomes you encounter, trust that you are precisely where you need to be, equipped to navigate the challenges ahead.

 This life you're leading isn't about achieving… it's about experiencing all that you are created for. When you believe that, I mean deeply believe that… you let go of the expectations you have, you fortify your distance from self-doubt and the enemy, and you are able to relax, chill out and enjoy the ride.

 So - the next time you find yourself afraid or doubting whether you can or should do something. Say this: I was created for this… I am literally made to do this… and I'm exactly where I should be… so what's in front of me is what I'm supposed to be experiencing right now… and I'm up for the challenge.

 There is no more space for you here, enemy - so eff off and find another mind to play around with… ain't no room for you here.

 Ok - until next time, keep leading with courage and confidence and remember that you deserve to be unleashed.