Dear Dan: Negative Comments Cause Self-Doubt
An insecure leader whose idea is called “stupid” will either try to shut down the criticism or run from it; proving or hiding. Instead, I paid attention to what was happening inside of me and what was happening in the room. I was aware and learning.
Chris McAlister • Figure That Shift Out
July 10th, 2025
A newsletter by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
READ ON THE WEB
Hello friends,
I recently had dinner with a famous author, a scientist and an artist. Despite their obvious success, the conversation turned to how often they all felt “not smart enough.”
I experience this too, especially when I’m around accomplished people. Since I know many... See more
July 10th, 2025
A newsletter by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
READ ON THE WEB
Hello friends,
I recently had dinner with a famous author, a scientist and an artist. Despite their obvious success, the conversation turned to how often they all felt “not smart enough.”
I experience this too, especially when I’m around accomplished people. Since I know many... See more
Ness Labs: The Psychology of Intellectual Self-Doubt 🧠
Self-belief must be balanced with self-awareness. I used to hate criticism of any sort and actively avoided it. Now I try to always listen to it with the assumption that it’s true, and then decide if I want to act on it or not. Truth-seeking is hard and often painful, but it is what separates self-belief from self-delusion.
Sam Altman • How to Be Successful
