Embracing your Inner Badass

We challenge the myth that “badass” means loud and fearless, and show how quiet courage, small acts, and steady action reshape identity. We lean on the confidence–competence loop, confront fear and people pleasing, and offer practical steps to build daily momentum.

• redefining badass as alignment and quiet courage
• small acts as evidence that rewires identity
• confidence–competence loop as a practical engine
• fear as growth signal, self-doubt as recycled voice
• moving from perfection to progress, approval to authenticity
• embodiment cues for presence and clarity
• showing up in relationships, work, and self-expression
• stacking tiny wins into lasting confidence

If this resonated with you, I would love for you to leave a review and follow for more such amazing self help content coming your way!

Chapters

• 0:00 The Real Meaning of Badass
• 1:10 Quiet Courage Over Flashy Confidence
• 3:25 Proof in Small Acts of Bravery
• 3:46 Confidence–Competence Loop Explained
• 5:10 Tiny Actions That Build Momentum
• 5:43 Three Invisible Barriers
• 7:00 Rewriting Your Mindset
• 8:00 Everyday Examples of Badassry
• 8:20 Embody It Physically
• 9:00 Show Up in Relationships, Work, Self
• 10:36 Build the Badass Muscle Daily
• 12:00 You’re Already a Badass
• 12:26 Own It and Final CTA

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Let me ask you something. What if you woke up one day, say tomorrow, and realized that you had been playing small all your life? What if all those doubts, all those fears, all those moments you held back weren't because you couldn't, but because you didn't give yourself permission to show up fully? Sounds scary, but believe me, it's even scarier than that. What would your life look like if you finally said, I am done shrinking, I am done apologizing, I'm stepping into my full power. Welcome back to the Self Help Podcast. I am so glad you're here. I'm Dupali, your host, and we unpack life chaos, one story, one lesson, and one brutally honest truth at the time. And today's topic is something deeply personal and also quite close to my heart, which is embracing your inner badass. Now, before we dive in, let's clear something. Being a badass isn't about being loud, being flashy, or perfect. It's not about showing up or pretending that you're fearless. Even though we from the outside assume that is the case. Being a badass really means being bold even when you're scared. There's standing up for yourself even when it's hard and showing the world the real you without apologies. When you hear the word badass, what comes to your mind? Maybe someone fearless, flashy, or larger than life. That's the Hollywood version or the version that the internet tells you to believe in. But real badassy doesn't need the spotlight. It lives in the quiet courage, tough choices, and simply refusing to shrink. Think of your friend who stayed home for months caring for a sick parent while juggling a full-time job. They didn't post inspirational quotes, they didn't get applause, but every day they showed up, they made the hard calls and refused to quit. Now that's badassry. Not in volume or bravado, but in resolute action. Or the college student who finally spoke up in the class with their voice shaking on a topic that they really really cared about and were passionate in, even though everyone else stayed silent. That's a small act of courage. Raising your hand when it's easier to stay invisible ripples through your sense of self in ways you can't measure yet. Being a badass isn't about being the loudest, most visible person. It's about living in alignment with the part of you that refuses to compromise. The part that whispers to you more often than it should. I'm here fully, unapologetically, whether the world approves it or not. And I'm not looking for permissions. I'm not seeking validations and or approvals. So just forget the leather jacket, the low rise, denim jeans, forget the Instagram highlights. Your badass self is not a costume, it's the raw, untamed, a sense of you who you have always been, actually, but waiting for permission from no one. And here's the thought: what would happen if you treated every small act of courage as proof of your badass self? Speaking up once, setting a boundary, or trying something new. It all comes, and all of it matters. And that is the mindset I hope to build for my life as I speak into this episode. And I also hope the same for you as a listener. It's unbelievably magical. Let's talk confidence. Most people think I'll feel confident first, then I'll act. No, but psychology says it's the other way around. That's the concept called the confidence-competence loop. The more you do something, the more competent you feel. The more competent you feel, the more confidence you build. So think of it like a loop. Think of learning to drive a car for the first time. Hands shaking, stomach in nuts, but after a few weeks of practice, it becomes your second nature. Confidence wasn't waiting for you, it was growing with you. Or maybe think of your first sales pitch. Or just think of your first presentation at work. Maybe you stumbled over your words. Maybe you felt like everyone else noticed your mistakes. But with every presentation after, you build rhythm, you build that momentum, you gain mastery, and you feel more at ease. And badasses don't wait to feel confident. They take the leap and the confidence then follows. Here's a mantra. I keep reminding to myself, I might not be ready, I might be afraid, but I'm doing it anyway. Try it right now. Close your eyes and repeat it. Feel the shift. Now write down three things you have been putting off because you don't feel ready. Maybe it's setting up the emergency kit in your cart. Or maybe cleaning your fridge. Or maybe finishing up the book that you said you were gonna read at the beginning of the year. Or cold emails. Or meeting someone that you want to pitch your idea to, but you're afraid because it's strange, it's awkward. It's now pick up one tiny action that you can take this week. That's your first badass move. Most of us don't embrace our inner badass because of three invisible barriers. Of course, fear, self-doubt, and people pleasing. And I am very much in all of these categories. Fear whispers, what if you fail? You're not good enough. Self-doubt says, Who are you to even try? Could you even do that? People pleasing, yes. What will people think? Okay, what if I come across a stupid, flimsy person trying to do this thing? Or what if they make fun of me? Or what if they talk about me behind my back? Which any which ways they they do and they will. But that shouldn't stop you. Because the truth is fear isn't your enemy. Fear is a proof that you're growing. Think of someone leaving a toxic relationship, heart racing, terrified of the unknown, rebuilding, reinventing themselves right from the baseline bottom from ground up from level zero. But they step forward anyway. That's fear and courage dancing together. Self-doubt, that inner critic is not truth. It's recycle voice from your past. And people pleasing? Haha, that's treating your authenticity for approval that doesn't last at all. Believe me, at all. So ask yourself, whose voice do you want to guide your life? Is it yours or is it theirs? I'm sure you know the answer. To live like a badass, you actually need to reprogram your mind, rewire your thinking with some fundamental shifts. Number one is moving from victim to creator mindset. Life isn't happening to you, it's happening through you. Now ask what can I do with this instead of why me. Number two, move from flawless perfection to progress. Badass chases growth, not flawless perfection. And it's a delusion, right? What is even perfection? And what is even flawless perfection? Heck no. Done is always better than perfect. From approval to authenticity, trading external validation for internal alignment. Moving from fear of failure to feedback. Every stumble is data, every rejection is redirection. From scarcity to abundance. Don't see competition, see collaboration. There's room at the table. Whenever your old mindset creeps in, pause, reframe, and choose the badass thought instead. Badasses aren't all loud and out there. Some whisper, some fight with birds, some roar. Think of your mom friend who's starting a side business while raising kids. Exhausted but still relentless. Or that local bakery in your area. Or your cousin learning a new language to chase a dream abroad, alone in a new country, in a new city. Closer to home. Maybe it's your friend leaving a job that drained them, choosing uncertainty over comfort. Now, every badass has just one thing in common. This common denominator, which is they act even when they're afraid or even when they don't feel like it. So badassry isn't just mental, it's also physical. Stand tall. Most of it is definitely a mental game, but you also cannot overlook the importance of being physically sturdy and just feeling fit. Not looking fit, there's a difference. Stand tall, shoulders back, making eye contact. Such a powerful move. Even though it's very simple. Breathe. Want to feel like a badass? Move like one. Practice power poses. Practice structure. Speak with clarity, but speak slowly. With conviction. Walk into a room like you belong there. Feel like you have earned the seat on the table that you're sitting on. Because you do. Being a badass is showing up everywhere. Like, not like overcrowding and overhauling your life one random day and showing up to all the places and all the events and never saying no. The thing is, you have to understand what's important to you and what's not. So relationships, set boundaries, say no, choose respect over approval. Mean yes when you say a yes, but also mean no when you say a no. Career. Ask for that race, that promotion, pitch the idea. Speak in that meeting, even though you feel there are no valuable ideas or insights that you have. Just speak up, speak up. Don't blabber, but speak up. Find something meaningful. Think about it. Be intentional about your approach. Ask questions. It's okay. No one is judging you. At least you are trying hard to understand. Instead of pretending that you're all smart and intellectual and you don't ask questions because you know it all. No, we don't know it all. No one knows it all. So ask questions. Even though you may think that it's a stupid question or it's a very basic one, that's okay. I am ready to come across as someone who doesn't know things than to fake perfection and actually not become smart in the process. I'd rather not do that. Launch the business, whatever helps you. Self-expression, wear what you love. Please speak your truth. Don't go by the trends. Create without censoring yourself. Whatever makes you happy, comfortable, whatever you wanna do. You wanna rock that jeans, go do it. You wanna wear that dress, please, by all means. Just whatever helps you feel creative, confident, and a happy version of yourself. Because this world does need another copy. The world needs you. And just like your muscles, it needs rework. It needs going and hitting the gym or being on the treadmill or doing strength training every single day. So it's your mental energy and focus that helps you build your badass muscle daily. Morning mantra. When you wake up, or whenever you can think about this, I am powerful, I'm fearless, I am unstoppable. And even though I'm afraid, I'm gonna do what I said I was gonna do. Do hard things, gold shards, work out, mental challenges, speak your truth, say no, ask for what you need, share your opinion, do not dim or dull your light because someone else is shining too bright. Don't do that. I know we have all been there, I have been there for way too many times. And I keep reminding myself celebrate your wins, even small ones, doesn't matter. Maybe one day it could look like getting out of your bed when you didn't want to, taking that shard that you've been avoiding from two days, it's fine. Or cooking some fresh meal in your kitchen. That's also a win. Eating a plate full of veggies that you wanted to win. Reflection and your day asking, where did I show up as a badass today? And then what are the other areas of my life that I can use the same badass muscle and energy to show up? Small choices stack up, they compound and then they create momentum and they then rewire your identity. And the thing is that you're already a badass. You don't realize that, but believe me, you are. You've survived what felt impossible, you have kept growing and going when others might have quit. Your scars are a proof of your strength. So this episode isn't about turning you into someone else, it's only about reminding you of who you already are. So stop shrinking, stop apologizing, stop waiting for permissions and validations and approval. Don't wait until you're ready. Because believe me, you will never feel ready. Just go do it. Your inner badass is ready. The world needs you, the real, unstoppable, unapologetic you. Go out there and own it. If this resonated with you, I would love for you to leave a review and follow for more such amazing self help content coming your way. Until next time, embrace your badass and I will go to it too. Bye bye.