E's Easy Listening
Fall is here along with autumn leaves, pumpkins and … Perfectionism? Anxiety? Burnout? OK, take a deep breath and listen to this episode of Polly Campbell, Simply Said. I guarantee you'll feel better.
High achiever. Perfectionism. Imposter Syndrome. People-Pleasing. Burnout. Anxiety. Do any of these words sound familiar? I’m stressed just thinking about them.
Elisabeth High-Achiever, People-Pleasing Rourke here—Polly’s editorial assistant and self-proclaimed Queen of Anxiety and Master of Burnout—and boy was I delighted to listen to Polly’s most recent Simply Said podcast guest Dr. Mary Anderson.
Dr. Mary Anderson (or Dr. A, as her patients call her) is a licensed clinical psychologist and the author of The Happy High Achiever: 8 Essentials To Overcome Anxiety, Manage Stress, And Energize Yourself For Success—Without Losing Your Edge. I heard this title and wondered if Dr. A wrote this book specifically for me. Then, I hurried to the bookstore and bought myself a copy—no joke.
Cultivating Balance Within Your Life
“If I’m not pressuring myself, I won’t achieve anything.”
“If I’m not stressing out, I’m not working hard enough.”
“If I’m not being productive, then that means I’m lazy.”
Ever heard these voices in your head? Many of Dr. A’s high-achieving patients believe that anxiety is the price of admission for success, but thankfully, Dr. A. says, that’s not the truth. People are so afraid that they’re going to lose their edge if they take their foot off the gas. (Hello, me!) There’s so much fear of making mistakes, of being incompetent, of not being good enough. Dr. A says that she teaches the importance of self-compassion and balanced thoughts.
Balanced Thoughts Versus Positive Thoughts
In the Sept. 23 episode 281, Dr. A. says that positive thinking can feel invalidating, dismissive, and inaccessible, especially during moments of struggle. Instead, she helps to make her patient’s thoughts more accurate and helps them get over cognitive distortions.
That little devil on your shoulder—that inner voice whispering lies—gets the best of a lot of people, myself included. Our self-talk is really powerful and impactful. Those “I should” or “what if” statements affect sleep and increase our anxiety-spirals, which perpetuates the dreaded hamster wheel we often find ourselves on.
Create a Balanced Thought
What am I telling myself? That’s the question Dr. A. wants us to answer. Our thoughts create our feelings. So once you make yourself aware of what that little voice is telling you, then, Dr. A. says, we poke holes in it. Prove it wrong.
Guys, I can’t stress this enough—if you’re going to treat yourself to any type of self-care in the next few days, treat yourself to this Simply Said podcast episode—it’s a game-changer for ambitious people who struggle with balance, negative self-talk, and all-or-nothing thinking.
By balancing your thought patterns, you won’t lose your edge, but you just might lose the anxiety that’s tied to it!.
Polly Campbell’s Simply Said podcast on the Electracast Network is available on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Happy listening,
E