Dear Reader,

People say this to me more often than you might expect:

“You’re so confident.”

And I always appreciate it. Truly.

​
But it also makes me smile a little, because confidence is only part of the story.

What people don’t see is the internal commentary. The quiet second-guessing. The mental replay of a conversation once it’s already over.

From the outside, things can look calm and steady.

​
On the inside, there can be a lot of thinking happening.

I see this all the time with high-achieving leaders.

They’re capable. Trusted. Respected.

​
And still, there’s this subtle undercurrent of:

​
​Did I say that the right way?​
​Should I have added more context?​
​What if that didn’t land the way I intended?

I’ve learned both personally and through my work that confidence and doubt often coexist.

​
The presence of doubt doesn’t mean something is wrong. It just means you care.

When I notice myself starting to spiral, I ask myself, what do I know to be true right now?

Not what might happen.
Not how something could be interpreted.

Just the facts of the moment.

Usually, the answers are pretty straightforward: I’m prepared. I understand the topic. I’ve handled situations like this before.

That’s often enough to bring me back into the room and out of my head.

A question to sit with this week: What helps you come back to what’s true when your inner commentary gets loud?

With ease, Tracy

Forwarded from a friend? Subscribe to With Ease Bi-Weekly Newsletter here!​

I offer 1:1 coaching, group coaching, team facilitation, and public speaking, and tailor offerings to the specific needs of you/your workplace. ​Contact me to learn more​.

Is coaching right for you?

If you’re leading well on the outside but carrying too much on the inside, coaching can help. I work with leaders who want clarity, confidence, and impact, without burning themselves out to get there.
​

Let’s connect - book 30 minutes here.

​