Episode 30 - Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Why Creatives Hold Themselves Back
From Inner Resistance to Creative Confidence
Episode Overview
Why do we sometimes disappear right when things are finally starting to work?
From procrastination and perfectionism to the fear of being fully seen, this episode explores how the nervous system responds to visibility – and why holding back doesn’t always mean failure or laziness. Sometimes, it means we’re protecting something deeply personal.
Through the story of Emily Dickinson, reflections on creativity and identity, and insights from psychology and neuroscience, Maria and Karina unpack:
- The hidden emotional cost of visibility
- Why creatives often fear success more than failure
- The tension between wanting to be seen and wanting to stay safe
- How accountability and community help us keep creating
Topics Covered
- Creative visibility and nervous system regulation
- Self-sabotage vs self-protection
- The psychology of being seen
- Emily Dickinson and hidden creative brilliance
- Perfectionism and procrastination
- Imposter syndrome and identity shifts
- Why accountability helps creatives grow
- Building creative confidence through small steps
- The importance of community for artists and freelancers
Time Stamps
00:00 Hook
00:47 Hello from hosts,
01:12 How are you and what are you up to
02:41 episode 30 of Big Dreams and Little Things.
02:57 Today’s topic
03:24 Karina and Maria shares their views on the topic of breaking the glass ceiling
07:03 Story Emily Dickinson
11:20 Hosts discussion after story
13:21 Female pioneers
13:44 Poem – Tell All the Truth, But Tell it Slant
15:06 Holding back before a breakthrough-hosts share their moments
17:11 Science.
20:52 Are we protecting our creative self or self sabotaging
23:02 The importance of community
24:01 Backstage Community. This week’s guest is Jenny Svenberg
27:02 Takeaways
27:41 Connect with us at Big Dreams and Little Things.
27:58 Victory Dance
References & further reading
Emily Dickinson’s Poem
“Tell all the Truth but tell it slant —”
If you’ve never read Emily Dickinson before, this poem is such a beautiful doorway into her inner world (and honestly… painfully relatable for creatives trying to share their work gently).
📚 Susan Jeffers
Fear doesn’t disappear as we grow — we simply expand our capacity to move with it.
A good starting point:
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
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Backstage Community Spotlight Jenny Svenberg.
Instagram: jsb_art
Backstage newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter 📲 Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings 👥 Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings YouTube: @bigdreamsandlittlethings