#698: Why Trying Harder Is Keeping You Stuck

#698: Why Trying Harder Is Keeping You Stuck

Author: Trish Blackwell April 7, 2026 Duration: 24:01

Most people believe success comes from trying harder.

  • Pushing harder.
  • Working harder.
  • Forcing themselves to "be better."

But that mindset often creates the exact things that hold us back: pressure, perfectionism, hesitation, and fear of failure.

In this episode, I'm introducing a powerful shift that will change the way you approach growth, confidence, and progress in your life:

  • Stop trying.
  • Start testing.

When you treat life like a series of experiments instead of pass/fail tests, everything changes. Failure becomes feedback. Action becomes data. And confidence grows faster because you stop making every outcome mean something about your worth.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the "try harder" mindset actually sabotages confidence

• How adopting an experiment mindset reduces fear and overthinking

• The 5 areas of your life you should start testing immediately

• How to turn setbacks into useful data instead of self-criticism

• A simple 3-question framework to help you run experiments in your daily life

If you've ever felt stuck, hesitant, or like you're putting too much pressure on yourself to get things right… this episode will help you move forward with curiosity, courage, and momentum.

Because confident people don't succeed more than everyone else.

They just run more experiments.

⬇️ ADDITIONAL RESOURCES MENTIONED ⬇️

90-Day Identity Reset:➡️  www.trishblackwell.com/90day

Improve Your Social Confidence ➡️ with this bundle (on sale now!) 

🔥 New Resource 🔥27+ Mind Games for Confidence

➡️ Click here to get a FREE COPY of the 5XBY5 METHOD:

🙋🏼‍♀️ REFRAMING MASTERY CHALLENGE:

www.trishblackwell.com/reframe

📂THE 3|3|3 METHOD, FREE DOWNLOAD! www.trishblackwell.com/333method

🏛️ GET MENTORED & COACHED BY TRISH in the COLLEGE OF CONFIDENCE  (Risk-Free, Cancel-at-Anytime, Money-Back Guarantee!)

www.collegeofconfidence.com

🔥 GET 24 MINI COURSES for $24!!! [START HERE IF YOU'RE NEW]:

www.trishblackwell.com/24for24

🎉STOP CARING WHAT PEOPLE THINK 
www.trishblackwell.com/stopcaring

❤️ABUNDANT AND ACCELERATED, 3-month 1:1 program with Trish, find out more at www.trishblackwell.com/abundant

📓GET THE "JOURNAL MASTERY BUNDLE"; click here.

Other Episodes on Impostor Syndrome

#223:  Impostor Syndrome is the Biggest Liar in Your Life

#422: How to Win Against Impostor Syndrome


It's a quiet, persistent feeling that you're not quite measuring up, even when everything looks fine on the outside. The Confidence Podcast: Mindset Coaching and Tips to Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs, Self-Doubt, Perfectionism, Overthinking, Impostor Syndrome and Insecurity speaks directly into that space. Hosted by Trish Blackwell, a seasoned confidence coach, these conversations are for anyone-particularly women-who are tired of their own inner critic holding them back from the purpose they sense is within them. You’ll find practical coaching strategies here, but also a deeper, integrated perspective that weaves together mindset work with spiritual grounding. Episodes tackle the very real cycles of overthinking and self-doubt, offering actionable tips to break free and build a more resilient, authentic sense of self. Trish’s approach is both compassionate and direct, guiding you to move from a place of insecurity to one of courageous action. This isn't about a superficial fix; it's about aligning your inner world with your faith and potential. Tuning into this podcast feels like a coaching session blended with a heartfelt talk, all aimed at helping you silence the noise of not-enoughness and step into the confidence you were meant to live with.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Confidence Podcast: Mindset Coaching and Tips to Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs, Self-Doubt, Perfectionism, Overthinking, Impostor Syndrome and Insecurity
Podcast Episodes
#706: When People Annoy You More Than They Should [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:27
Why do some people bother us SO much? In this episode, we're talking about the hidden emotional exhaustion that comes from obsessing over people you don't even like — the coworkers, family members, acquaintances, persona…
#705: Increasing Your Inner Swagger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:32
Swagger isn't arrogance. It's not loud confidence, attention-seeking, or pretending you're better than people. Real swagger is embodied self-approval. And most people don't lack confidence because they're incapable — the…
#704: Self-Critical Voice & Being Hard on Yourself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:00
Do you constantly feel like you should be doing more, achieving more, or being better? In this episode, we're talking about the self-critical voice — the exhausting inner dialogue that keeps high achievers stuck in cycle…
#703: Negative Imagination v. Positive Imagination [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:51
Why your brain keeps rehearsing fear — and how to retrain it for confidence. Most people don't realize this: They are using their imagination against themselves all day long. They imagine: rejection embarrassment failure…
#702: Negative People (And How to Make Sure You're Not One of Them) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:47
Most people aren't aware of how negative their thinking actually is. In this episode, we're diving into the concept of negativity bias—your brain's natural tendency to focus on problems, threats, and what's going wrong—a…
#701: Saying "No" With Confidence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:44
If saying no makes you feel guilty, anxious, or like you're letting people down—this episode is for you. In this episode of The Confidence Podcast, we're breaking down how to say no with confidence—without overexplaining…
#700: Everything I Know About Confidence (After 700 Episodes) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:49
After 700 episodes of The Confidence Podcast, millions of downloads, and years of coaching high-achieving women—this is the most honest, distilled truth about confidence I've ever shared. Because confidence isn't what mo…
#699: Emotional Resilience: How to Keep Going When It's Hard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:07
Disappointment is one of the most powerful—and most misunderstood—emotions when it comes to confidence. Most people don't fail because they aren't capable. They fail because they don't know how to process disappointment……
#697: Stop Trying to Fix Impostor Syndrome (Try This Instead) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:16
What if the goal isn't to eliminate impostor syndrome… but to become so confident that it doesn't control you anymore? Most people don't tell you this: The people doing the biggest things in the world… the people steppin…
#696: The Daily Mental Workout That Builds Real Confidence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:36
What if you trained your brain the same way you trained your body? Most people can point to when they started working out, playing sports, or taking their physical health seriously. But very few people ever intentionally…