Stop letting people impress you

This week I've been having conversations with Eden about our childhoods. Wildly different tales to tell, but one thing we had in common was that we both felt like outcasts most of the time. No sob story—I think it was a good thing. It made us curious about people, experiences and we found that we would question everything. A great trait to have.

One thing that stuck out in these conversations is that we were impressed by things we knew nothing about. People who had sword skills, morse code, wilderness navigation by stars, people who read dictionaries, scientists, people who had been on broadway…

Now as a kid, you're impressed by things you don't know about and that's a great thing to be. It's inspiring, you create idols and mentors and become curious in learning. But it can be taken too far. The impressiveness can create a divide between you and that person.

Why are we usually impressed? Because things can feel unobtainable. It feels like: "wow I can't believe you did that. I could never."

When it should be: "That's cool. How can I try that?"

Being impressed to a level of goals feeling unobtainable is doing you no favours as an adult.

In 2026 we can see what everyone's doing. Celebrities doing what I eat in a day, house tours and Instagram stories to see what they're up to. The mystery of celebrity has disappeared. We know so much about everyone and everything and that veil has been lifted—the line between famous and regular people has been blurred and becoming a "celebrity" is easier now than ever. You just have to find an audience, tell a story/show your talent and post videos on social media for a while.

Is it note-worthy to have drive, talent, discipline and creativity? Yes absolutely, but anyone can do it. Just like anything else in this life, anyone can do anything. You just have to take the steps to get there. And once you realise that, your goals aren't so big and people achieving goals aren't so impressive.

I think my choice of words is poor—"impressive" might be the wrong word. You should still congratulate, appreciate and be wowed by people hitting their goals or having cool skills. But... just remove the pedestal from them. They built that pedestal themselves and that means you can build your own too. And maybe your pedestal looks a bit different to theirs—better even, more you.

Taking inspiration from people is important and being interested or fascinated by someone else is an enjoyable feeling. There's nothing I love more than hearing someone speak about something they are truly passionate about. I love to learn and ask questions. But if someone is telling me about something I would like to try or achieve, I'll find out how-to do it from them or I'll do my own research.

I think this piece is also about jealousy. Get rid of it. If you're feeling sad when you see someone else hitting goals you want, it means you don't think you can have or achieve that thing. And that puts that person on a pedestal and you below them. They're not any more special than you. They just took the steps and actioned the thing to get to where they are. Turn that feeling into action. Next time you feel jealous or insecure hearing or seeing something, it means you want that thing. Go get it. Research, put in a plan and action it.

Gym goals, business, drawing, meditation, knitting, handstands, singing, dancing, acting, cooking, writing, building a social media… Every goal requires the same structure—adding it into your routine. And naturally, you get better.

So I want you to stop being impressed by people because they're just people, like you. Be curious and excited by people and their achievements. But never, for one second, think that they are better than you or that you can't have what they have.

Because let me tell you a secret… there's no ready-made pedestals—everyone starts at zero.

Love,
Penelope
Co-Founder of Boring Studios, Building my own pedestal