Your cringe inventory

That moment right before hitting publish on a piece of content is absolutely terrifying for most people.

Doesn't matter if you're just starting out or if you've got millions of followers.

That anxiety when you're about to put yourself out there? It's universal.

Austin Butler put it perfectly:

"Embarrassment is an underexplored emotion. It is often the thing that stops us from trying new things or expressing ourselves. Go out there and make a fool of yourself. Feel the feeling. Feel the fear of cringe. And then go out and do it."

Everything you've ever dreamed of is probably sitting just on the other side of that cringe feeling.

Most people spend their entire lives avoiding embarrassment.

They don't create because "what if nobody cares?"

But nervousness usually comes from something being authentic, different, or pushing boundaries.

The things that make us cringe are often the exact things that make us, well, memorable.

Embarrassment is fundamentally about social rejection.

Our brains are wired to avoid it because, historically, being cast out from the group meant death.

But we're not living like that anymore.

The worst thing that happens when you embarrass yourself online?

Some people might not like it.

They'll scroll past.

Maybe they'll leave a comment.

Then they'll forget about it by tomorrow because the internet moves so fast that even massive mistakes are forgotten in days.

But the regret of not putting yourself out there? That sticks around for years.

Every time you push through that cringe feeling, you're building what I call courage compound interest.

Each small act of bravery makes the next one easier.

Think of it like making deposits in your courage account.

A few practical ways to take on the cringe:

1/ Reframe failure:

Instead of "what if this doesn't work?" try "what will I learn from this?" Every cringe moment is data about what resonates and what doesn't.

2/ Find Your first readers:

Build a small circle of people who support your weird ideas. When you have even two or three people in your corner, putting yourself out there becomes less terrifying.

3/ Set cringe goals:

Literally plan to embarrass yourself once a week. Make it intentional. The more you practice feeling uncomfortable, the less power it has over you.

Not all embarrassment is created equal.

There's productive cringe (trying something new, being authentic, taking creative risks) and destructive cringe (saying harmful things, acting without consideration for others, being reckless with relationships).

The goal isn't to eliminate all social awareness or become someone who doesn't care about impact.

More so - distinguishing between the fear that protects you and the fear that imprisons you.

Eventually, that feeling becomes less a wall and more a doorway - a signal that you're about to do something that matters.

Maybe it's time to find out what's waiting for you on the other side.

Remember, the creator mindset is all you need to grow 🌱

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