Have you ever been told that you “care too much” or that you “try too hard”?

Me too.

I am a chronic over thinker and perfectionist, and honestly, it’s exhausting. And sure, sometimes it helps me to appear “productive” on the surface, but at what cost? I’m burnt out all the time and I’m sick of it. And if you've ever felt this way too, know that you're not alone.

In this solo episode of Balancing Act, I explore my thoughts on overthinking, perfectionism, and battling that really annoying inner critic.

I ponder:

• How and why other people are too caught up in their own minds to notice (or care) about your imperfections
• How to practice confidence until you feel confident
• The root of perfectionism and how regain perspective to combat perfectionist tendencies
• Taking control in the moment instead of catastrophizing
• Why motivating yourself through “I’m not good enough” doesn’t work
• Slowing down to reflect on your priorities and to allocate your energy wisely

Despite my perfectionist tendencies, I’m anything but “perfect”. I’m actively thinking about and working towards addressing my perfectionism to lead a more balanced life - which is the point of this podcast. (i.e. I talk a lot perfectionism and present some solutions but I don't have this figured out.) So let’s explore and rethink perfectionism together.

My key takeaways:

• People are often too caught up in their own lives to notice the small details of things that you’re insecure about. You are your own worst inner critic. It’s cliche but it’s true.
  • To combat this, approach every situation reassuring yourself that no one else notices your insecurities. Act as if you’re not insecure about these things, and people will treat you as if you are confident, helping you to actually become more confident.
• Perfectionism causes us to give some things unwarranted (and unnecessary) amounts of mental and emotional energy
  • Regain perspective by reflecting on your motivation for making this thing perfect. Is it fear or passion? Do you truly need it to be perfect? In twenty years from now, will you remember more about the perfect outcome or the toll it took to get there?
• Constantly striving to be “productive” is unhealthy and unsustainable
  • Reflect on your motivations. If your productivity stems from feeling like “I’m not good enough”, no matter how productive you are, you’ll never feel fulfilled because you will constantly feel the need to prove your worth. Instead, slow down and consider your values and priorities. Write a list of what’s truly important to you - not just what external pressures are urging you to value. Allocate your energy according to your authentic priorities.

Contact Balancing Act:
📧 Email Moorea: moorea@balancingact.life
🌐 Website: balancingact.life
📸 Instagram: @balancingact.podcast

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