Throughout this series, we’ve explored various aspects of self-silencing: the fear of being judged by those we care about, the worry of angering or upsetting people, being unsure you could defend your ideas, the feeling of not being good enough, and the worry that our ideas are insignificant.

These are the most common barriers that prevent us from expressing our true selves.

But the big question remains: how do we break through these barriers? How do we find our voice and use it confidently?

In this episode we’ll summarise the methods I’ve shared in previous episodes and introduce a powerful tool – the 'What If' game. This game is a transformative approach to reframe your mindset and begin to overcome self-silencing.

The 'What If' Game is a tool that involves flipping your fears on their head. Instead of asking, 'What if I’m judged?' ask, 'What if my ideas are embraced?' It’s about exploring the positive possibilities that can come from expressing yourself.

In my mini-book 'Stop Self-Silencing' I offer two more powerful tools, and guide you through understanding and overcoming self-silencing.

But if you’re looking for ongoing support, I’ve created The Visibility Lab mini membership. It’s a community where you can access resources, connect with like-minded individuals, and find support as you work on showing up authentically in your life and impact journey.

The Lab includes videos, post prompts, and quarterly visibility challenges to help you start showing up and speaking out on social media and beyond. I hope to see you inside!

This feeling of inadequacy, or the nagging thought that we're somehow not qualified enough, or we aren't worthy of sharing our thoughts or opinion, is more personal to reason 3; feeling our ideas are insignificant. That’s because it’s more about our self-worth and identity rather than the external reception of our ideas.

It's where you might have valuable insights or unique experiences to share, but a voice inside your head is whispering doubts like 'Who am I to say this?' or 'They’ve been doing it for much longer than me, so what right do I have to talk about it.'

These doubts are more than just concerns about the relevance of our ideas; they are reflections of how we perceive ourselves in relation to others, especially in terms of experience, expertise, and worthiness.

This feeling isn’t just about a lack of confidence; it's deeper than that. It's about questioning our very right to speak up and be heard. It's as if there's an unspoken rule or standard that we believe we haven't met, and therefore, we sideline ourselves in conversations and discussions.

Overcoming this feeling of starts with challenging the 'Fairness Fallacy' - the belief that only the 'best' and 'most qualified' have the right to speak or be heard.

It's about recognising that everyone, including you, has the right to share their thoughts and experiences. Your perspectives are valid, not because of some external validation, but because they are uniquely yours.

Practising self-affirmation can be a really powerful tool here. Remind yourself regularly that your thoughts and opinions matter. Affirmations like 'My voice is valuable' or 'My experiences are worth sharing', can help to rewire the negative thought patterns that you have that are holding you back.

Want more help and support on your visibility journey? Visit fifimason.com/tvl to learn more and take the first step towards a more visible, empowered, and authentic you.

Perhaps you have a thought or an opinion, but hold back from sharing it, not because you don't believe in it, but because you're not sure if you could defend it in a debate or discussion.

This hesitation is common in environments where we feel less confident, whether it's in a professional setting, a social gathering, or even online.

Part of this fear stems from not wanting to engage in conflict. Many of us naturally shy away from situations that could lead to disagreements or arguments.

We might worry about the emotional toll it could take or the potential damage to relationships, especially if the discussion becomes heated or confrontational. This avoidance of conflict can often leave us silent, even when we have valuable insights to share.

Then there is the paralysing fear of not being able to defend our ideas. It's rooted in the worry that we might be put on the spot, questioned, or even challenged, and that we won't have the right words or the depth of knowledge to back up our stance or point of view.

It’s like having a voice but being unsure of its strength or its reach. The concern here isn’t necessarily about the validity of our ideas, but more about our ability to articulate and justify them when faced with opposition or scrutiny.

One way to move past this is by adopting a mindset of curiosity and learning rather than seeing discussions as battles to be won.

It's about transitioning from a defensive position to one of exploration.

When you share an idea and someone challenges it, instead of feeling threatened, view it as an opportunity to deepen your understanding or refine your perspective. Encourage questions and be open to different points of view.

Want more help and support on your visibility journey? Visit fifimason.com/tvl to learn more and take the first step towards a more visible, empowered, and authentic you.