Why do some people constantly feel not good enough.

Even when they’re capable, successful, and doing everything they can to hold things together?

In this episode of Moving Minds Forward, Gary Johannes explores the psychology and neuroscience behind low confidence and self-esteem. From self-doubt and overthinking to comparison, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the inner critic that never seems to switch off

This episode looks at what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Gary explains how confidence is shaped by past experiences, stress, relationships, and the brain’s threat system and why low self-esteem is not a personality flaw or weakness, but a learned pattern that can change.

You’ll learn:

• why confidence disappears
• what keeps self-doubt going
• how the brain reinforces negative beliefs
• why avoidance and comparison make things worse
• what actually helps rebuild genuine confidence

Grounded in neuroscience, therapy experience, and real human understanding, this is a calm, practical, emotionally honest conversation about rebuilding self-worth from the inside out.
Because confidence isn’t something you’re born with.
It’s something the brain can relearn.

Hosted by Gary Johannes, solution-focused hypnotherapist, founder of Inspired To Change, and senior lecturer with CPHT.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episode Timeline

00:00 — Introduction
02:10 — What low self-esteem actually is
06:45 — Why confidence disappears
11:20 — The role of the brain and threat response
16:10 — Self-criticism and the inner voice
21:40 — Comparison, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
27:15 — Why avoidance keeps confidence low
31:50 — The neuroscience of rebuilding confidence
37:05 — What actually helps
42:20 — One practical step you can take today
45:10 — Final thoughts and encouragement