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When we consider what we value within ourselves, it can be interesting to assess whether we are placing more emphasis on the internal, human values, or on the external, outcome-based elements. This can often be the difference between whether we feel like we are ‘enough,’ or whether we’re constantly striving for it – often without knowing what ‘enough’ actually is.
Often, if a thought or feeling keeps popping up while we’re trying to work on something else, it needs to be given an outlet before we can move on. Using the brain pour technique is a great way to train our capacity to park an issue while we focus.
Imposter syndrome thrives on a cycle of self-critical thoughts, reflecting only our fears and insecurities. It tries to speak louder than our strengths and overshadows the things we know we are good at. To discredit it, we need to ground ourselves in the facts. We can use both internal and external evidence to directly disprove our imposter’s voice.
If you ever feel nervous before a presentation, meeting, or your one-on-one, it may be a symptom of performance anxiety. It’s completely normal, and most of us experience it to some degree. The thing that many people don’t know is this: There are two distinct types of performance anxiety.
Intentions encourage us to approach our goals with more flexibility. Where a resolution may be a clearly defined behaviour or outcome, an intention could be considered more like a ‘first draft;’ the first of many steps that will carry us to where we’d like to be.
There are a million ways we can give definitions and names to our inner voices, thought patterns, and brain functions. They’re all borne of different people’s desires to conceptualise their intangible inner workings. Some will be incredibly helpful for one individual, and meaningless for another.
Rationalisation is not “designed to discover our unconscious reasons: hidden beliefs and desires. Rather, it constructs new beliefs and desires where none had existed, to extract information from the non-rational processes that influence our behavior.”
Being aware of our biases can help us unravel the selective way in which we interpret the world. It can allow us to take a step back and look at what is really happening, intentionally noticing the evidence on both sides. Alternatively, we can allow our mind to run with the bias, embracing the tendency to notice things that support our beliefs or goals.
If you have ever experience a visceral sense of overwhelm that seemed to pin you in place, you can likely connect with the concept of task paralysis. Suddenly, your to-do list becomes an insurmountable wall, and you’re completely stuck.
Trying to account for every possible version of the future at once is a mental juggling act. When many moving parts are still unresolved, the planning becomes overwhelming, because none of the decisions can actually be made yet.
Many high achievers struggle with prioritising others’ needs at the expense of their own. While being supportive and helpful is valuable, constantly striving to meet everyone’s expectations can lead to stress, exhaustion, and even resentment.
The Restless Saboteur thrives on busyness. It doesn’t just keep your calendar full, it keeps your mind full too. Planning the next thing. Jumping between tasks. Filling the silence. All in the name of progress… but progress toward what? Read more start noticing what your busyness might be hiding.
When was the last time you reached a goal, or got a result you were working towards? Fulfilled a dream after persistence and dedication?
Maybe, for a moment, it felt good. But before you had the chance to really take it in, your mind jumped ahead. What’s next? What needs fixing? Where could I be better?
Have you ever felt an overwhelming need to take charge, to ensure everything runs exactly as it should? Maybe you catch yourself micromanaging, struggling to delegate, or feeling tense when things don’t go according to plan. If this sounds familiar, you may identify with the Controller Saboteur.
December often feels like a juggling act, with end-of-year work deadlines, holiday preparations, and extra family commitments all competing for attention. While it’s tempting to try to do it all, this approach often leads to burnout. Instead, adopting clear priorities and setting realistic boundaries can make a huge difference.
As we approach the end of the year, it’s natural to reflect on all the goals you set and the ones still looming on your to-do list. For many of us, this reflection sparks a relentless urge to push harder, striving for more right up until the clock strikes midnight on December 31st. But what if this year, instead of striving, you paused to celebrate how far you’ve come?
Setting high standards for yourself can drive you forward, but when those standards become unrelenting, they can feel more like a trap than a tool for success. People with unrelenting standards hold themselves to expectations they would never impose on others. They keep pushing for more, often without a clear idea of what “more” looks like, and whenever they reach a goal, they simply raise the bar again. It’s a cycle that leads to constant striving without a sense of completion or satisfaction.
Perfectionism often wears a disguise. It’s praised as a driver of high performance, but beneath the surface, it can lead to more harm than good. Research shows that while some forms of perfectionism, particularly those focused on personal standards, can push us towards excellence, the self-critical side of perfectionism is a different story.
Disconnecting isn’t about abandoning responsibilities; it’s about finding the right strategies to ensure both areas of your life get the attention they deserve—without overwhelming you. Here’s how to create that balance and reclaim your mental space.
