#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: 50

The Confidence Podcast: Mindset Coaching and Tips to Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs, Self-Doubt, Perfectionism, Overthinking, Impostor Syndrome and Insecurity
Podcast Episodes
#709: The Real Reason You Don't Fully Like Yourself Yet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:16
You can be accomplished, self-aware, and still not fully like yourself — and for high achievers, that gap is more common than anyone admits. In this episode, Trish explores why so many driven women have mastered the perf…
#707: Which of the 11 High Achiever Types Are You? (Take the Quiz) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:27
High achievers often get lumped into one category: driven, ambitious, successful. But not all high achievers are driven by the same thing. In this episode, we're breaking down the four different types of Type A personali…
#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…