the psychology of hiding your talents

(a 1 week plan to step out)

Author

Yoli Inácio
September 20, 2025

We all know someone with a hidden talent.

The coworker who paints beautifully after hours.
The friend with a voice that gives you chills.
The family member who writes like a pro but keeps everything in a drawer.

It’s easy to admire them. But often there’s a deeper reason they keep that light hidden.

And maybe… this is you.

Hiding behind talent is a way to feel safe. Safe from judgment, vulnerability and the fear of not being “good enough.”

This is more common than you think. But it should not be normalized. It usually comes from real fears and past experiences. Understanding them is the first step to breaking the pattern and actually using your gifts fully.

the psychology of hiding your talents

→ Fear of judgment and criticism
Sharing something you care about can feel exposing. What if people don’t like it? What if they laugh or dismiss it? If you grew up around criticism or felt discouraged when you tried to shine, your brain learned, “Better to stay unseen than be hurt.”

→ The weight of expectations
Once people know you’re good at something, they may expect more—better work, faster, all the time. What was fun can start to feel like pressure or a job. To avoid that, many people just keep the talent quiet.

→ Perfectionism taking over
That inner voice says, “It’s not ready yet.” So you keep tweaking and delaying. The work never feels “finished,” so it never leaves your laptop. In the end, perfectionism becomes the blocker, not your ability. Well, you know that, right?

→ Fear of success (yes)
Success brings change: more attention, more responsibility, and… more eyes on you. Scary. “What if I can’t keep this up?” or “What if they find out I’m not that good?” can make you self-sabotage by staying hidden. Comfy.

→ Protecting your real self
Sometimes your talent feels deeply personal, like part of your identity. You say you like “being private.” But try to understand the difference between being private and being hidden. Your decision can keep you safe, but it also keeps you distant from evolving your work and from people who might love it. And pay for it.

how to step into your light

This isn’t about blowing up your life or turning your hobby into a business out of the blue. Make it into a minimum viable honesty: doable steps that make visibility feel safer.

1) Name the real risk (out loud)
Write the sentence you’re avoiding:

“I’m afraid people will think I’m trying too hard.”
“If I share this, they’ll expect me to be this good every time.”
“If I succeed, I’ll have to keep it up.”

Fear hates specificity. Once it’s concrete, it’s coachable.

If you'd like to explore further, you can always reach out to the Shadow Workbook for Creatives I designed. If you’re not ready for it, that’s okay. There are plenty of ideas ahead; keep reading.

2) Start small, on purpose
Pick the lowest-stakes share: show one trusted person a draft; post a 10-second clip instead of the full thing. Let your nervous system learn: “I shared and nothing exploded.”

Sounds silly, but your nervous system is not intellectual like you think you are. It only registers through experience. Action.

3) Set MVH: Minimum Viable Honesty (for one week)
Define one tiny honesty rep: reveal one belief, one boundary, or one behind-the-scenes mistake. Don’t delete or back off.

4) Redefine success and failure
Success (this week): I finished and shared ____ (fill the blank).
Failure: A data point, not a verdict. What did I learn? What’s my next experiment?

6) Build boundaries that make honesty sustainable
Here you have to get honest with yourself. Choose where you won’t read comments. Share and log off. Decide in advance how much you’ll produce vs. promote, etc.

Not enough or not thinking this is worth trying? That’s okay. If you thought that, probably there is a lot of resistance within you. Well, your system is trying to protect you. Let’s help it be a bit more at ease:

10-Minute Exercises (pick one today)

A) Audience of One
Make something for one specific person who would get it. Say what you’d say if it were only for them. If you feel like sharing with them, great sign.

B) Anti-Perfection List
List three places you’ll allow to be “imperfect” (a raw vocal, a visible sketch line, a typo).

if you want this tailored to your current creative energy:

If you want to discover yours, you can do it for free here. Takes less than 2 minutes.

→ Dreamer (tons of ideas):
Pick one idea and finish it. Put every other idea in a “Later” list.
Example: “This week I’m finishing the blue poster. The rest goes to Later.”

→ Talented (great skills, tends to please people):
Remove the fancy extra things and add one honest detail that shows your taste.
Example: “I kept the rough brush stroke because it feels more human.”

→ Builder (organized, can get rigid):
For every piece you share, add one sentence that starts with ‘because…’ to show your belief.
Example: “I chose fewer colors because clarity matters more than variety.”

→ Visionary (big vision, can over-perform):
Say it in one short, plain sentence. Cut the drama, keep the point.
Before: “We are redefining the creative landscape…”
After: “We help creatives make clear work they’re proud of.”

You’re hiding because you’re wise. It’s not a sign of weakness. You learned to stay safe. That wisdom got you here. But safety isn’t fulfillment.

Your next chapter doesn’t have to keep this way.
Let your talent serve your voice, not replace it.

Thanks for reading,

Yoli