How perfectionism could hold you back
Tristan
1,5 minute read
·Less is more, the story of my life
Know that feeling when you’re trying so (too) hard but it’s just not working? And you don’t understand why, since you’re putting in so much effort. Well let me tell you, less is usually more. A hilarious metaphor I use to explain this behavior: Trying to reach something under the couch and missing out on 2 centimeters. You know you can just fetch a stick or something to retrieve the item, but oh hell no. Determined and frustrated you keep reaching until you finally give out and fetch that stick, something you could have been done with seconds ago. Or you actually make it but you rush out of the uncomfortable place you squeezed yourself in and bump your head so hard making you even more frustrated. Sigh … if only you would have slowed down to go faster.
Slowing down to go faster
I have this often. I’m the go all-in type of guy. I usually achieve a lot this way, but it always falls short of where I want to be at the end. Be it work and losing passion, be it the gym and not hitting the numbers + injuries or be it mental health and beating yourself up for the only thing that went “wrong” the entire day. Whatever it is for you, less is usually more. Work -> take more breaks, gym -> slow down and focus, mental health -> be compassionate for yourself. Try to make it less hard for yourself (yes this is also a reminder for myself, lol).