Your Mind Will Be Your Biggest Enemy (If You Let It)

Nothing destroys iron like its own rust.
Nothing destroys you like your own mind.

Most people won’t fail because the world is against them—
They’ll fail because their own mind is.

I wrote that to help someone break out of negative self-talk.
Funny enough, it’s helping me more than anyone else right now.

I catch myself rereading my own posts—not because I think I’m some guru—but because they remind me of what I’m trying to live up to. Sometimes they spark clarity. Other times, they just help me think.

I’ve realized I can give great advice. Maybe you can too. But why is it so damn hard to follow it ourselves?

All I’ve ever wanted was to build something of my own. Some kind of business. Something creative I could be proud of.

I’ve tried a million different things. Still trying.
And my go-to advice is always the same: patience and persistence.

But here’s the truth—I struggle to stick to anything for too long.
Not because I don’t care. It’s just hard.
I don’t know if it’s a me thing or a culture thing—this idea that if something doesn’t take off quick, it’s not worth it.

Take my kitchen renovation. I’ve been over it for a month, but I’m still at it.
Why? Because I have to finish. We need a working kitchen. There’s no option to quit.

That’s the difference right there.

With side hustles and creative work, there’s no urgency. No hard need. So we bounce.
We scroll. We dabble.
Too many options. Too many distractions.
I picked up writing a year and a half ago. I like it. But I don’t need it. And some days, I drag myself to the keyboard wondering if it’s even my thing.

But deep down, I know it is. Just not every day.

The problem? I’ve been trying to write like someone else. Sound like someone I’m not.
That kills the drive.

You can’t consistently show up to a space where you don’t feel like yourself.

I think the people who thrive creatively are the ones who build something around who they truly are. They pour themselves into it. I’m still figuring out what that looks like for me.

Even in renovation work—I can handle every trade. I could build a house if I had to.
But I’m not “the guy” at any single thing.
Maybe I’m meant to be the manager. The leader. The one who keeps things moving.

So yeah—your mind is the only thing that can really take you out.
It invents fear. Creates doubts. Blocks you from doing what you know you’re meant to do.

I’ve got stories for days, but still hesitate. There’s always that voice:
What will people think?
Then there’s the other voice: Who gives a shit?

It’s exhausting, the back-and-forth.

If I have one strength, it’s starting.
I’ve gotten over the fear of launching something.
But I haven’t yet overcome the fear of continuing.

Here’s what I’m trying to remind myself—and maybe it helps you too:

I’m going to keep writing this newsletter—even if it’s messy.
Even if I have to keep tweaking it until it actually fits me.
Eventually it will. And when it does, it’ll speak to the right people.

Right now, it’s still finding its shape. But I’m showing up.
Still trying. Still stubborn.

And that’s something I can be proud of.

Subscribe to my newsletter, The Durmic Letters, for deeper insights on personal growth, fulfillment, and real stories.

See you in the next one. Peace.
—Durmic