Chapter 15

Dear Diary: When You’re the Only Thing Standing in Your Way
 

01/15/26

Dear Diary,

It’s wild how often we, as humans, devalue ourselves and then act surprised when things feel harder than they need to be. We second-guess our instincts, downplay our strengths, and tell ourselves stories that simply aren’t true. Somewhere along the way, self-protection turns into self-sabotage.
 
Most of the time, it isn’t the circumstance that’s standing in our way. It’s us. As Taylor Swift once said: "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me."
 
I remember a few years ago, the first time I spoke on stage in front of an audience. I was so in my head. Worried about how I sounded, what I looked like, whether I was “good enough.” In reality, I had made the entire experience about me. What I missed in that moment was the most important truth: it was never about me at all. It was about the people in the room. It was about serving them, helping them see something differently, or giving them permission to think bigger.
 
When we make everything personal; we lose perspective. A missed opportunity becomes proof we’re not ready. Feedback becomes a verdict on our worth. A slow season turns into a narrative that we’re failing. When we filter every experience through “What does this say about me?”, we lose clarity and it kills momentum.
 
But getting out of your own way doesn’t mean pretending fear doesn’t exist. It means recognizing when fear is in the driver's seat. It means trusting that you’re allowed to take up space, make decisions, and move forward without having all the answers first.
You don’t need to prove yourself worthy before taking the next step. You already are.
 
Sometimes the most powerful shift is simply remembering that not everything is about you. And once you realize that, you'll no longer feel that heavy weight you placed on your own shoulders.
 
So today, if you feel stuck, pause and ask: Am I responding to what’s actually happening… or to the story I’m telling myself about it?
 
Chances are, the path forward is clearer than you think, once you step out of your own way.
 
Until next time,
Katelyn