QTP: Question the Premise QTP.

What if the “truth” that’s been limiting you… isn’t true?

Feb 16, 2026

QTP

This weekend I was listening to a podcast by Becca Syme. She has a master’s degree in transformational leadership and works as a success coach. (https://betterfasteracademy.com/coaching/beccasyme/) During the episode she mentioned QTP — Question the Premise.

In other words: What assumptions are you making that might be incorrect?

That one question can change everything.

Sometimes a stray comment lodges in our brains and begins to corrode our confidence from the inside out.

Years ago, a noted miniaturist told me I was one of the most creative people she’d ever met — but my execution stinks. She might be right about the execution part. I cannot, for the life of me, cut anything straight. I goof up. Right now I’m working on a mouse house, and it’s not going as planned. I’ve made a glorious mess in my kitchen.

Maybe I should give up. (And yeah, isn’t it gutsy of me to share this photo with you? I have to admit, I’m a little queasy about it.)

Stop.

That’s not how I want to talk to myself.

I get a lot of joy out of messing around and making things. So maybe I need to question the premise. Maybe the premise isn’t “I’m bad at this.” Maybe it’s “I’m learning.” Or even better: “I’m having fun.”

What’s your truth?

How many of us are carrying around “truths” that were handed to us years ago?

“I can’t write.”
“I’m not artistic.”
“I’m terrible at business.”
“I’m not creative.”

Who told you that?

And why did you believe them?

We judge constantly — it’s how humans survive. When you’re driving, you’re making split-second judgments about whether the person at the stop sign will wait or pull out in front of you.

But survival judgments are not the same as creative verdicts.

Everyone has an agenda. Not necessarily malicious — just human. We see the world through our own preferences, wounds, experiences, and insecurities.

Some time ago, I mentioned online that a book could begin with three words. A woman visited two of my Facebook pages just to say she wished I could see her gagging. I sent her a short note: “I’m here to encourage people.” She didn’t respond.

That’s fine.

A quick glance at her page told me she was carrying a lot of anger.

That’s her garden to tend, not mine.

And that brings us back to QTP.

Whatever holds you back, whatever steals your joy — maybe it’s simply a seed planted by a careless gardener. Seeds grow when watered. Weeds flourish when ignored. You get to decide what you cultivate in your mental garden.

Question the premise.

In personal news…

On the subject of not quitting, I signed a contract for the next two Kiki Lowenstein books to be turned into audiobooks — which means I’ve committed to write them! I’m halfway through Book #21. I think the title will be Purple, Blame, Game. It’s set during Mardi Gras in St. Louis — which, by the way, hosts the second-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the country.

Have you ever attended? I’d love to hear what you thought.

My buddy Neil and I were guests on the Velvet Teacup Society. You can watch it here:

This coming Thursday, I’ll be speaking at Century Village in West Palm Beach about creativity as a fountain of youth. (It truly is. There are documented health benefits to making creativity part of your daily life.)

Monday Mystery Party Tonight!

And tonight at 7 PM (Eastern) is Monday Mystery Party at Joanna’s Readers! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1602372550058785

Our guest will be Gayle Leeson, and she’ll be giving away a print copy of her brand-new release. I’ll give away a copy of All In. (The reviews have been stellar! One person even said it’s her favorite of all my books! Wow!)