The Scene: The Silent Battle Between Curiosity & Self-Doubt
Picture this.
You have an idea—something exciting, something different.
For a moment, your mind sparks with possibility.
- What if I explored this further?
- What could this turn into?
But then? Doubt creeps in.
- What if it’s not good enough?
- What if I don’t know enough yet?
- What if people don’t take me seriously?
This is where most creativity dies.
Not because the idea wasn’t great.
Not because you lacked skill.
But because curiosity lost to self-doubt.
So how do you stop this from happening?
By understanding that curiosity and confidence aren’t separate—they feed each other.
And the more you train them together? The more unstoppable your creativity becomes.
Why Curiosity & Confidence Are Linked (The Science of Creative Trust)
Most people think confidence comes first—that once you feel ready, then you’ll take action.
But that’s not how confidence works.
Confidence isn’t something you need before you start.
It’s something you build by starting.
And the best way to shortcut that process?
Strengthen curiosity—because curiosity pushes you to act before confidence kicks in.
Think about it:
- When you’re deeply curious, you stop worrying about how good you are.
- You shift from “Am I good enough?” to “What happens if I try this?”
- You stop overthinking your ability and focus on the discovery itself.
And the more you act from curiosity, the more confident you naturally become.
The Experiment: 3 Ways to Strengthen Curiosity & Confidence at the Same Time
1. Train Yourself to Follow Small Sparks (Without Overthinking)
Most people kill their own creativity by thinking too big, too soon.
They overwhelm themselves with questions about the end result—instead of just exploring the idea.
The Fix: Follow the Spark Without the Pressure to “Finish”
- Next time you feel a pull toward an idea, give yourself 10 minutes to explore it—without worrying about whether it’s “worth it.”
- Treat it like an experiment, not a commitment.
If it excites you, go deeper. If not, move on—but don’t ignore the initial spark.
Confidence grows when you stop shutting down your own curiosity.
2. Ask “What If?” More Than “What’s the Right Answer?”
Self-doubt thrives in questions like:
Is this the right idea?
Am I doing this the best way?
What if I get this wrong?
But curiosity thrives in questions like:
What if I tried this?
What happens when I do this?
What could this turn into?
The Fix: Catch Yourself in Self-Doubt & Flip the Question
- Next time you feel stuck, notice if your question is self-doubt-based or curiosity-based.
- If it’s self-doubt (“What if this isn’t good?”), flip it to curiosity (“What if I explored this for 10 minutes and saw what happens?”).
Curiosity removes the fear of “wrong.” It turns every action into a discovery.
3. Collect Experiments, Not Just Outcomes
Most people define success as “Did this work?” instead of “What did I learn?”
But when you focus only on the outcome, you miss the value of the process.
The Fix: Track Your Creative Experiments Like a Scientist
- Keep a “Curiosity Journal” where you log every small experiment.
- Instead of asking, “Did this work?”—ask, “What did this show me?”
- Celebrate experiments regardless of outcome.
Confidence comes from knowing that every attempt teaches you something.
And when you stop fearing “failure” because every step moves you forward?
That’s when creativity becomes limitless.
The Final Lesson: Creativity Grows When You Stop Needing Permission
Most people wait until they feel confident before they act.
But the secret is—confidence comes from action.**
- You don’t need permission to explore.
- Follow the sparks—even if they seem small.
- Flip self-doubt into curiosity.
- Track progress based on learning, not just outcomes.
Because the truth is?
Creativity thrives when you stop needing to “be right” and start allowing yourself to discover.
– Lauren Janeen
And the more you trust that process, the more confident—and unstoppable—you become.
Your Challenge This Week
- Notice a small creative spark—and follow it for 10 minutes.
- Flip one self-doubt thought into a curiosity-driven question.
