Podcast Ep 409 - The Dangerous Lie of “I’m So Behind”

The Dangerous Lie of “I’m So Behind”

Have you ever caught yourself thinking… “I’m so behind”?

Behind in your editing. Behind in posting. Behind in bookings. Behind in where you thought your photography business would be by now.

And it doesn’t just feel like a passing thought. It feels heavy—like you’re falling further and further behind every single day. But what if that thought isn’t just unhelpful… what if it’s actually dangerous?

Because “I’m so behind” isn’t just a neutral observation. It’s a story. And underneath that story is an even deeper assumption: something has gone wrong. You’re missing something. You should be further ahead than this. Maybe even—there’s something wrong with you.

And once you believe that, everything shifts—but not in a good way.

You feel stressed, anxious, rushed, maybe even embarrassed or defeated. And then your actions follow… or more accurately, your inactions. You procrastinate. You avoid. You shut down. You scroll instead of doing the thing you know actually matters. You stay “busy,” but not productive. And ironically, you end up creating the exact result you were afraid of—you make yourself feel even more behind.

But let’s pause for a second.

Behind compared to who? Compared to what? And where exactly is this finish line you think you’re racing toward?

Because here’s the truth no one really talks about: there is no finish line. Not in photography, not in business, not in life. There will always be more clients to serve, more problems to solve, more things to improve. Just like laundry is never truly “done,” your business won’t ever be either—and that’s not a problem. That’s the process. 

So if there’s no finish line… how could you possibly be behind?

Here’s where it gets even more interesting. Most photographers will say, “I’m just impatient.” But what if it’s not impatience at all? What if it’s actually a lack of belief?

Because if you truly believed—deep down—that what you’re doing is working… that your efforts will lead to results… you wouldn’t feel rushed. You’d feel excited. There’s a difference. Excitement sounds like, “I know this is working. I can’t wait to see it unfold.” Impatience sounds like, “I don’t know if this is going to work, so I need it to happen faster.” One is rooted in certainty. The other is rooted in doubt.

Think about it this way: when you order something you know is coming, you don’t panic two seconds later wondering if it will arrive. You’re calm. Maybe even excited. Why? Because you trust that it’s on the way.

That’s the same kind of energy your business needs.

So instead of telling yourself, “I’m so behind,” what if you started thinking, “I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be”?

Not in a passive way—but in a grounded, powerful way. Because this stage you’re in right now is part of the process. It’s where you learn, where you solve problems, where you grow into the kind of photographer who can handle more.

What if your job isn’t to catch up… but to figure things out?

One problem at a time. One decision at a time. Because that’s what business really is—solving problems, over and over again. And the photographers who succeed aren’t the ones who never feel behind. They’re the ones who don’t let that thought stop them.

So the next time you catch yourself thinking, “I’m so behind,” pause.

Ask yourself: behind according to who? What if nothing has gone wrong? What if this is exactly the pace required?

And more importantly… what would change if you actually trusted yourself to figure it out?

Because maybe the real problem isn’t your timeline.

Maybe it’s the story you’re telling yourself about it.

And the moment you change that story… everything else starts to shift too.

So the next time you catch yourself thinking, “I’m so behind,” pause for a second.

Is that actually true—or is it just a thought you’ve repeated long enough to believe?

And instead of rushing to catch up… what would happen if you slowed down, trusted the process, and focused on the next right step?