Overcoming the ‘Existential Crisis’ of Posting: Alicia Teltz on Self-Doubt

In a recent LinkedIn post, Alicia Teltz discusses the pervasive self-doubt that often paralyzes individuals before hitting the ‘post’ button, framing it as a significant barrier to personal and professional success. Teltz highlights how the fear of judgment from others, whether perceived or real, can lead to a crippling hesitation that prevents people from sharing their ideas and achievements.

The Internal Battle Before Posting

Teltz opens by vividly describing the internal monologue that often precedes a post, likening the hesitation to an “existential crisis.” This emotional turmoil, she suggests, is fueled by the imagined opinions of specific individuals from one’s past and present. These figures, whether a school acquaintance, a skeptical colleague, a dismissive boss, an ex-partner, or even a parent, occupy mental real estate and serve as perceived obstacles to progress.

“They are the ones keeping you away from your success.

And they’re not even thinking about you.”

This core argument, as put forth by Teltz, is that the perceived audience is often far more concerned with their own insecurities than with judging the content creator. She argues that the very people causing the hesitation are likely engaged in their own internal struggles, a point she emphasizes with the observation:

“They’re too busy worrying about what YOU think of THEM.
They’re struggling with their own insecurities.”

Reclaiming Ownership and Permission to Post

Teltz’s post then pivots to empowerment, urging readers to push past this fear. She frames the act of posting not as a bid for external validation, but as an assertion of personal ownership over one’s life and narrative. The permission to post, according to Teltz, does not come from external figures but is an internal grant.

Challenging Perceived Judgment

Alicia Teltz challenges the notion that others are critically evaluating every post. Instead, she posits that the fear of judgment is largely a projection of one’s own anxieties. This internal focus, she argues, is what truly hinders progress. As Teltz writes:

“Go on.
Post the thing.
You’ve got permission.

It’s YOUR life.
Not theirs.

OWN IT! 💥”

Teltz concludes with a message of encouragement, aiming to inspire immediate action. She uses a lighthearted reference to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” to underscore the intensity of the internal struggle but ultimately reinforces the idea that overcoming this hurdle is achievable. Her closing remarks, including a personal anecdote about posting a picture she disliked to demonstrate living by example, serve to normalize the vulnerability and encourage others to embrace their own posting journey, regardless of potential self-doubt.