The Perfectionist Paradox: When High Standards Become Hidden Fear

The Perfectionist Paradox: When High Standards Become Hidden Fear

In this episode, Monique unpacks the perfectionist spiral — the one that disguises fear as high standards. She shares how writing her book became a masterclass in learning to let go of control, embrace “good enough,” and separate the work of creating from the work of perfecting. If you’ve ever delayed a project because it wasn’t “ready” yet, this one’s for you. You’ll learn how perfectionism quietly keeps us small, why it’s really about fear, and how to take your next step — imperfectly, but bravely. Get full access to Spiraling Forward Podcast at spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Jealousy Signal: When Creative Jealousy Becomes a Compass

It starts as heat across your face. A flash in your chest. That uneasy mix of anger, shame, and comparison that we don’t like to admit out loud. We’ve all felt it: jealousy. Especially in our creative work, where someone else’s success can feel like proof we’re falling behind. In this episode of Spiraling Forward, Monique unpacks “The Jealousy Signal”, the spiral that shows up when another creative gets what we want, and we start rewriting their story to feel better about our own. Through a raw personal story about losing a friendship, she explores: * Why jealousy isn’t random, it’s information pointing to what still matters to us. * How jealousy often hides a layer of grief for the future we thought we’d have by now. * How to transform jealousy from self-criticism into clarity and direction. Monique also shares a simple Tiny Action you can try the next time jealousy flares up, one that helps you decode the feeling instead of drowning in it. Because when we stop treating jealousy as proof that something’s wrong with us, we can finally start hearing what it’s been trying to say all along. RESOURCES & LINKS: * Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/spiralingforward [https://patreon.com/spiralingforward] * Follow me on Instagram: @taketinyaction [https://www.instagram.com/taketinyaction/] Get full access to Spiraling Forward Podcast at spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Spiral Over Visibility: Why Showing Up Online Feels So Hard

We’ve all heard the advice: “Just post the content.” But what if showing up online isn’t actually that simple? In this episode of Spiraling Forward, I share one of the spirals I return to again and again: the struggle over visibility. I’ll take you inside the loop of feeling inspired, hitting a wall of fear, retreating, and then spiraling into shame — and why it’s not just about internet anxiety. Through my own story, I explore: * Why visibility often feels more like exposure than opportunity * How old protective patterns from childhood still shape the way we show up online * Why your nervous system, not your willpower, holds the key to breaking the spiral * A simple practice you can use to start teaching your system that visibility can be safe If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t just “get over it” and put yourself out there, this episode will help you name the pattern underneath the fear and begin the gentle work of updating your internal code. Share this episode with a friend who’s navigating their own visibility spiral. RESOURCES & LINKS: * Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/spiralingforward [https://patreon.com/spiralingforward] * Follow me on Instagram: @moniquemalcolm [https://instagram.com/moniquemalcolm] Get full access to Spiraling Forward Podcast at spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Where The Spiral Begins

We all carry the same doubts, fears, and spirals — but most of us are suffering through them in silence. In this first episode of Spiraling Forward, I share the story that sparked this podcast, why breaking that silence matters, and what it really means to spiral forward. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why am I not further along?” or felt like you’re stuck revisiting the same struggles, this episode is for you. Resources + Links Mentioned: * Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/spiralingforward [https://patreon.com/spiralingforward] * Connect with me on Instagram: @taketinyaction [https://instagram.com/taketinyaction] * Grab my book: Don’t Let Fear Have All the Fun - taketinyaction.com/book [https://taketinyaction.com/book] Get full access to Spiraling Forward Podcast at spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Welcome to Spiraling Forward

You’ve done the work, launched the thing, shown up online, followed the steps… even healed some of your stuff. So why do you still feel stuck, scattered, or behind? Hosted by Monique Malcolm, founder of Take Tiny Action, Spiraling Forward is a podcast for creatives growing through the messy middle, the part of the journey no one talks about. This show explores the spirals we move through while building lives and businesses that actually reflect who we are, not the curated version we present to the world, but the messy, behind-the-scenes spirals we rarely admit we’re still in. 🎧 Season 1 launches on September 29th with new episodes dropping on Mondays. Subscribe now or visit taketinyaction.com/podcast [http://taketinyaction.com/podcast] to learn more. Get full access to Spiraling Forward Podcast at spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe [https://spiralingforwardpod.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]