Subscriber Story #2: The Truth About What's Actually Holding You Back

Author: Bad Karma | Editor: Janelle Newell | July 11, 2026 |

People make so many excuses about why they can't succeed. They say, "My parents are too strict," or, "I'm too introverted." While those things can absolutely make life harder, they're usually not the thing keeping you from moving forward. The biggest factor in your life is you. The moment you stop blaming everything around you and start taking accountability is the moment you gain control over your future.

A lot of us hold ourselves back because we're worried about what other people think. But the truth is, you'll never actually know. Someone can compliment you while secretly pitying you. Someone else can criticize you while secretly wishing they had the courage to do what you're doing. Most of the stories we tell ourselves about what other people think are just assumptions.

If I saw a girl doing things by herself, I honestly wouldn't think much of it. If anything, I'd wonder how she became so confident because that's the kind of confidence I aspire to have. So instead of assuming people are judging you, why not assume you might be inspiring someone?

Confidence grows when you stop viewing yourself through everyone else's eyes and start seeing yourself for who you truly are. People will dislike you no matter what you do. Even if you did everything "right," someone would still have something negative to say. That's life.

At the end of the day, they don't pay your rent, they don't live your life, and they don't determine your future. If you want to succeed, go after it. Stop waiting for permission. Nobody is holding you back more than the fear of what other people might think.