I meet people who are in movies, and the stuff that they write is

Host: The evening sun was slowly sinking behind the tall buildings, casting a deep orange glow across the street. The bustling noise of the city outside barely managed to find its way into the apartment, which was quiet, save for the soft clink of a coffee cup on the table. Jack sat in an armchair, staring at the window, his mind clearly far away. Jeeny sat across from him, her legs tucked underneath her, her hands resting lightly on her lap, waiting for him to speak.

Jeeny: (gently, breaking the silence) “You’ve been lost in thought for a while now. What’s going on?”

Jack: (sighing, his voice distant) “I heard something today that really stuck with me. Jesse Eisenberg said he worries that the stuff he writes might be terrible, but that no one tells him because he’s famous. And I started thinking… maybe that’s what I’m afraid of too. That people just tell me what I want to hear, not what I need to hear.”

Jeeny: (pausing, her gaze focused, trying to understand) “You mean, like when people are too nice to you? When they don’t tell you the truth because they don’t want to hurt your feelings?”

Jack: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. It’s like we live in this world where success or fame makes people afraid to speak their minds. Everyone’s too afraid to give honest feedback because of who you are. And it’s comfortable, but it doesn’t help. It makes me wonder if my work is just mediocre, but everyone’s too scared to tell me.”

Jeeny: (her voice gentle but insightful) “That’s a tough place to be, Jack. But I think what Jesse was talking about isn’t just about being told the truth — it’s about trusting yourself, even when you’re not sure. I mean, yeah, it’s nice when people are honest, but real growth doesn’t come from just getting compliments. It comes from feedback that challenges you.”

Host: The room feels heavy with Jack’s unspoken doubts, the weight of his worry sitting between them. The light from the window slowly fades, but the tension remains, thick and palpable. Jeeny’s calm presence contrasts with the storm brewing in Jack’s mind.

Jack: (almost frustrated, his hands fidgeting) “But how do you know? How do you know when the feedback is real and when it’s just someone’s way of being polite? If you don’t have people around you who’ll be honest, who do you trust?”

Jeeny: (smiling softly, her voice soothing) “I think the first step is learning to trust yourself. You can’t rely on other people to tell you if your work is good or bad — because at the end of the day, their opinion is just that. An opinion. And sometimes, the most important voice is the one inside you, the one that’s been with you through everything.”

Jack: (his voice quiet, almost questioning) “But what if that voice is wrong? What if I’m just fooling myself into thinking I’m better than I really am?”

Jeeny: (shaking her head, her eyes full of understanding) “Then you listen to that voice and challenge it. You grow from it. I think Jesse’s point was that fame or success can sometimes give you a false sense of security — like you stop hearing the truth because people are too polite. But honesty doesn’t always feel good. It can sting, but it’s necessary for growth. It’s not about protecting your ego — it’s about becoming better.”

Host: The air in the room is thick with the weight of their conversation. Jack’s brows furrow in thought, but Jeeny’s words seem to settle on him, a gentle reminder that growth doesn’t come from constant praise — but from confronting the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.

Jack: (sighing, more contemplative now) “I guess I just don’t want to be one of those people who’s deluded, who gets by on compliments without really earning them. The idea of putting something out there and having people just nod because they like me, not because they believe in what I’m doing… it feels wrong.”

Jeeny: (nodding with a gentle smile) “That’s a good thing to worry about. It means you care about being real, not just about being liked. But here’s the thing — you have to be willing to hear the tough stuff too. People who care about you should be the ones who challenge you, not just tell you it’s great all the time. You can’t let fear stop you from hearing the truth. Because if you do, you’ll never know if your work is truly as good as it could be.”

Jack: (pauses, his gaze softening) “You’re right. It’s easy to hide behind the compliments and the safety of people who don’t want to hurt you. But the real challenge is to step outside of that, to face the discomfort and take the truth for what it is, even if it stings.”

Jeeny: (her voice reassuring) “Exactly. The best work comes from facing the tough truths, from taking the criticism and using it to fuel you. It’s not about being afraid of failure or rejection; it’s about learning to listen to both the praise and the critique with equal humility.”

Host: The room seems quieter now, the tension easing as Jack’s expression shifts from doubt to something more thoughtful. Outside, the night has fully settled in, but the sense of understanding between them feels like the first rays of light at dawn — subtle, but strong.

Jack: (nodding, his voice more grounded) “I think I get it now. It’s not about avoiding failure or rejection. It’s about being honest with myself and trusting that the truth will make my work better. Even if it’s uncomfortable, even if it’s hard.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly) “Exactly. And if you truly believe in your work, you’ll be able to take that truth, no matter how tough it is, and turn it into something better. Don’t let fear of feedback stop you from becoming who you’re meant to be.”

Host: The conversation lingers, a quiet understanding settling between them. Jack now sees that the fear of criticism isn’t the thing that holds him back — it’s the fear of not confronting the truth. And in that realization, he finds the strength to move forward, with the knowledge that the path to growth is paved with both the compliments and the critiques that shape him.