Project Confidence

Kathie Gwilliam
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Struggling with comparison, self-doubt, or feeling like you should be further along in life? Project Confidence is a weekly podcast for adults who want to break free from the comparison trap and become confidently content. In short 10-15 minute episodes, we explore how comparison impacts self-worth, relationships, and joy, and how to move beyond it using the SOAR method. Learn to replace comparison with appreciation, inspiration, and self-recognition. New Episodes drop every Thursday.

  1. JAN 29

    #54 - Pain Isn't a Competition

    In this episode, we explore pain ranking—the habit of comparing hurt and deciding whose pain matters more. Through the lens of intent versus impact, we unpack why we instinctively defend our intent when we cause harm and cling to impact when we’re hurt. You’ll learn the hidden cost of choosing only one side, how comparison quietly damages relationships, and why healthy repair requires holding two truths at the same time. With real-life examples and practical language shifts, this episode offers a compassionate framework for navigating conflict without minimizing pain, villainizing others, or ranking hurt—and shows how understanding both intent and impact creates space for healing and connection.

    18 min

  2. JAN 22

    #53 - Make the Ugly Noise: Why Imperfect Practice Is the Path to Growth

    What if confidence isn’t about getting it right, but about being willing to sound bad first? In this episode, Kathie shares a moment from her daughter’s choir rehearsal that became a powerful life metaphor: the instructor encouraging kids to “be willing to make an ugly noise.” What sounded like simple advice for young singers quickly revealed a deeper truth about growth, learning, and the way comparison keeps so many of us stuck. We unpack the pressure to be polished from the start, how we expect ourselves to be good before we practice, treat mistakes like failure, and compare our beginnings to someone else’s middle. When comparison takes over, even small missteps become verdicts about who we are and what we’re capable of. This episode reframes imperfection as essential, not embarrassing. You’ll hear why you can’t get better at something you’re unwilling to be bad at first, why mediocrity is often just a stage of learning, and how doing something imperfectly can still be meaningful and even joyful. (Including a memorable strawberry cake pop fail.) Growth doesn’t require perfection; it requires permission. If you’ve been holding back because you don’t want to look foolish, this episode is your reminder: you don’t grow by avoiding mistakes, you grow by making them bravely.

    14 min

  3. JAN 8

    #52 - Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail (and What to Do Instead)

    It's a new year, which for many means New Year's resolutions.They often start with hope but quickly turn into pressure, comparison, and self-criticism—which is why so many of them don’t last. In this episode, we talk about why traditional resolutions fail and how chasing perfection can drain motivation and joy. You’ll learn how to approach your goals differently by adding AIR: Appreciation for the people and world around you, Inspiration to try instead of compare, and Recognition of your progress along the way. This episode invites you to start the year with intention, not shame, and to pursue growth that feels sustainable, meaningful, and kind.

    15 min

  4. 12/18/2025

    #51 - The Messy Middle: When Passion Feels Hard

    The beginning of a passion project feels exciting. The ending feels worth it. But the middle? The middle is messy. In this episode, I’m talking about the messy middle, that uncomfortable season where the excitement fades, the work feels heavy, and comparison creeps in. Inspired by a candid post from Monica Packer reflecting on nine years of podcasting, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what meaningful creative work really looks like. I share honestly about moments in my own writing, speaking, and podcasting journey when I felt misunderstood, embarrassed, overwhelmed, or ready to quit—and why those moments didn’t mean I was failing, but creating. We explore how comparison turns the reality of doing the work into a false story of failure, and why the messy middle is where so many people give up—not because they aren’t capable, but because they didn’t expect this part. To help navigate this season, I introduce AIR—Appreciation, Inspiration, and Recognition—as a practical mindset to keep going when doubt shows up. From the power of one kind message to recognizing progress you can’t yet see, this episode is a reminder that your work matters.

    19 min

  5. 12/04/2025

    #50 - When Vacation Comparison Steals Your Joy

    In this episode, Kathie shares a real moment from her recent family vacation when comparison almost stole the joy right out of the trip. After feeling frustrated and unprepared, she realized she was comparing this vacation to perfectly planned trips from the past, and it was making her grumpy and disconnected. She walks through how she used the SOAR steps to shift her mindset, let go of self-blame, and fully enjoy the moment. If you’ve ever let expectations or comparison ruin something good, this episode will help you reset, reframe, and reclaim the joy that’s right in front of you.

    14 min

  6. 11/21/2025

    Replay #6 - Different Priorities, Same Table

    As the Holidays approach, let's learn together how to avoid letting differing points of view ruin the holidays with your family. It all comes down to the fact that we often have different priority rankings, even when we hold the same values. Listen in to hear one of the big ah-ha moments of Kathie's life, and how it can teach us all how to more fully appreciate one another in our differing views.

    17 min

  7. 11/13/2025

    #49 - Do Something Anyway: With Guest Monica Packer

    In this week's episode, Kathie sits down with Monica Packer, creator of the About Progress podcast, to talk about what it really means to push back against perfectionism driven by comparison. Monica shares her powerful “Do Something Anyway” philosophy: the idea that you don’t have to be ready, qualified, or perfect to start, you just have to begin. Together, we unpack why it’s okay to be mediocre and how action itself builds confidence. Monica opens up about two vulnerable moments when she chose to show up despite fear and self-doubt—traveling abroad alone and accepting a lunch invitation in her dream community. Her stories remind us that when we let go of perfection and embrace progress, we not only grow but also create space to both give and receive from others. If you’ve ever waited to feel “ready” before taking a step, this episode will encourage you to do something anyway.

    20 min

  8. 11/06/2025

    #48 - Even the Outgoing Feel Left Out

    Have you ever looked at someone who seems to have it all together socially — bubbly, confident, always surrounded by friends — and thought, they’d never understand how it feels to be left out? In this episode of Project Confidence, Kathie shares a story from her last week living in California that turned that assumption upside down. What started as a casual goodbye conversation revealed something deeper: even the most outgoing people can feel like outsiders, too. It is a good reminder that everyone is craving connection, and that friendship often begins with one small, brave invitation.

    15 min
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About

Struggling with comparison, self-doubt, or feeling like you should be further along in life? Project Confidence is a weekly podcast for adults who want to break free from the comparison trap and become confidently content. In short 10-15 minute episodes, we explore how comparison impacts self-worth, relationships, and joy, and how to move beyond it using the SOAR method. Learn to replace comparison with appreciation, inspiration, and self-recognition. New Episodes drop every Thursday.

Information

  • Creator
    Kathie Gwilliam
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kathie Gwilliam
  • Show Website
    Project Confidence