“Humility or Hidden Insecurity? The Silent Struggle Holding Back Talented Creatives” As a Music Educator and Mentor, I’ve seen a recurring inner conflict among some talented musicians — they delay, they doubt, not from lack of skill, but from mistaking insecurity for humility. And the unfortunate result is often a life half-lived, music unreleased & untapped potentials. There’s a thin but powerful line between healthy humility and self-sabotaging insecurity. Humility acknowledges growth and stays teachable. Insecurity shrinks your value, calling it “modesty.” Some skilled musicians have been trapped in the mindset of “not yet good enough.” Not because of real lack, but because of their imagined inadequacy. This is the real-life question many creatives struggle with: “Am I avoiding this opportunity out of fear? Or is this just not my path?” Fear/Insecurity says “What if I fail or look foolish?” “Others are more talented; I should stay behind.” “Maybe I’m not called to do this.” It echoes shame, self doubt, lack of confidence, promotes laziness, procrastination, and breeds hesitation. Intuition on the other hand says: 1. This isn't my path right now, and that's okay. 2. That’s not aligned with my core purpose or vision.” 3. I feel calm (not anxious) about stepping aside or not doing this now. It speaks in clarity, confidence & not confusion. If you constantly compare your talent to others, say no to opportunities because of fear of being seen, always downplay your achievements, over-apologize for taking up space or taking your rightful place…, then it might not be humility. It might be low self-esteem in disguise. Low self-worth camouflaging as humility can lead to delays in destiny, unfulfilled dreams, dormant gifts or ideas, missed leadership roles, underutilization of potentials/talents/resources, dilly-dallying, a lifetime of “almost” but never quite stepping into purpose, and not grabbing opportunity by the forelock. Insecurity will keep you in rehearsal when you're meant to be on stage performing. Creative confidence doesn’t just come from mastering skills. It comes from confronting the stories, fear, and false modesty that hold us back. Sometimes, the only thing standing between you and your next level is the story you keep repeating in your mind or the step you refuse/hesitate/fear to take. A well-structured mind is just as important as a well-tuned instrument. Therefore, I. Don’t bury your voice II. Don’t sideline your dreams III. Don’t let a distorted view of “humility” talk you out of the assignment you were born for. It’s time to step up & not step away. Joseph Adeleye, FMNES Lecturer, Music Education – Lagos State University | IB Music Educator |Music Economist| #MusicEducation #FearVsIntuition #MusicianMindset #SelfWorth #HumbleConfidence #LinkedinMusicians #InternationalBaccalaureate #LagosStateUniversity