Scene Setting: The Weight of Loss and Expectation
Adult Inse sat at his desk, staring at the blinking cursor on his laptop screen. His latest assignment, an investigative piece on corporate corruption, was due in two days, and he hadn’t written a single word. Normally, deadlines didn’t scare him. He had spent years thriving under pressure, chasing stories, and navigating the fast-paced world of journalism. But now, everything felt… different.
Empty.
Since his parents passed away a month ago, a fog had settled over his mind. His career, once his greatest passion, felt hollow.
“You should be doing more with your life,” the voice of insecurity whispered. “You’re 45. You should be running your own publication by now. Traveling the world, making a name for yourself. Instead, you’re just another journalist stuck in the grind, wasting time while other people build real legacies.”
The words cut deep because, in a way, they echoed his own thoughts. He had always believed he was meant for something bigger. His parents had been so proud of his work, what would they think now, seeing him struggle, seeing him stuck?
Just then, his phone buzzed. A message from Curity:
“Lunch. My treat. No excuses.”
He exhaled, rubbing his temples. He wasn’t in the mood to talk, but he knew his sister well enough to know she wouldn’t let him off the hook.
A Sibling’s Perspective
An hour later, Inse sat across from Curity at a small café, pushing his food around his plate. She studied him, taking a slow sip of her tea before finally speaking.
“You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders,” she said.
He scoffed. “Feels like it.”
She nodded. “Let me guess, career doubts?”
He let out a bitter laugh. “That obvious?”
“You have a ‘my life isn’t moving fast enough’ face,” she said, smirking. “What’s the inner voice saying this time?”
Inse sighed. “That I should be doing more. That I’m running out of time to make a real impact. That I’ve wasted too much time playing it safe instead of taking risks.”
Curity tapped her fingers on the table. “Ah, the good old ‘never enough’ trap. But you know what we do with that voice, right?”
He rolled his eyes. “Use it for amusement and inspiration?”
“Exactly,” she said, grinning. “So let’s start with amusement. If your inner voice was a character, who would it be?”
He thought for a moment before smirking. “A pushy, overdramatic newspaper editor from an old movie. The kind that yells, ‘You gotta get the scoop, kid! You’re blowin’ your chance at the big leagues!’”
Curity laughed. “That’s perfect. Now, let’s hear it.”
Inse leaned forward, putting on a gruff, exaggerated voice. “Listen here, pal! You’re a washed-up hack! If you don’t get out there and break the biggest story of the century, you might as well pack it in and become a weather reporter!”
Curity nearly choked on her tea. “See? It’s ridiculous when you say it out loud.”
Inse chuckled, the weight on his chest feeling just a little lighter. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
2nd Transformation: Use the Voice of Insecurity for Inspiration
Curity leaned in. “Now, let’s take that voice and use it for something useful. What’s it really telling you?”
Inse hesitated. “I guess… I do want more. I don’t just want to write stories. I want to create something. Maybe start my own publication or travel more and write about stories that matter globally.”
Curity nodded. “Then why aren’t you?”
He sighed. “Because it’s risky. Because I don’t know if I’d succeed. Because… it’s easier to stay where I am.”
Curity smiled knowingly. “Ah, so the problem isn’t your career. It’s fear. And fear always disguises itself as ‘logical reasons’ for why we should stay comfortable.”
Inse drummed his fingers on the table, considering her words.
“You don’t have to flip your life upside down overnight,” she continued. “Start small. Pitch a bigger story. Reach out to publications that align with your vision. Take one step forward. If you’re going to listen to that inner voice, make it work for you instead of against you.”
Inse thought about it. Maybe she was right. Maybe his insecurity wasn’t a roadblock, maybe it was a sign pointing him toward what he truly wanted.
Taking the First Step
That night, Inse dusted off an old travel notebook. He flipped through pages filled with notes from past trips, places he had been, stories he had dreamed of telling but never pursued.
He pulled out his laptop and started typing an email to a travel magazine he admired, pitching an idea for a feature piece. His hands hesitated for a moment before he hit send.
The voice of insecurity whispered, “What if they reject you?”
But another voice, quieter yet stronger, responded: “And what if they don’t?”
For the first time in weeks, he felt something other than loss. He felt momentum.
Maybe his parents’ passing wasn’t a reason to feel stuck. Maybe it was a reason to move forward, to honor them by living fully.
One step at a time.
Key Takeaways
- Your inner voice of insecurity isn’t always your enemy. Give it an exaggerated persona to take away its power.
- Use insecurity as a sign of what you truly want. If you feel unsatisfied, don’t bury it, explore what it’s trying to tell you.
- Action is the antidote to doubt. You don’t have to take a giant leap, but you do have to take a step.
Inse’s journey wasn’t about silencing his inner voice. It was about changing the conversation, turning insecurity from a critic into a guide.
And that made all the difference.
