The other side of perfectionism, overthinking and self-doubt

As I walked through the door of a French high school yesterday, I couldn't help but smile. It brings me so much joy to be able to share my signature Mindfulness and Stress Management Workshop with dedicated teachers.

I know the academic environment well. I was in school from the age of 3 until I graduated from my Ph.D. This was a long and intense journey.

The memories I have from being a student, passionate about scientific research and knowledge, always come with memories of being overly stressed.

I wish I knew then what I know now.

My career transition from science into wellness has been a journey filled with interesting discoveries. I have learned how to manage my mind, appreciate the good, look for the lessons in the most challenging situations and be kind to myself.

It is very inspiring to have conversations around stress and what we can do to help our bodies recover faster from stressful situations. It is important to know that we can learn how to better prepare ourselves when we know that everyday life will be more challenging than usual (i.e., a new job, moving to a new place, a big deadline, or an important exam).

There is no one fixed path that can take you from being stressed into feeling calm. You must discover what works for you. No one else knows how the food you are eating and the thoughts you are thinking are making you feel. Only you do.

Change is possible.

The first step, which is the hardest, is to recognize that your life is not going to magically change one day. The stress is not going to suddenly disappear, but you can change your relationship to the situations that trigger you to be constantly stressed. You must do the work.

It is totally worth it.

You might discover, just like I did, that on the other side of perfectionism, overthinking and self-doubt there is a wonderful place filled with empathy for oneself and others, there is the enormous capacity to choose the thoughts that are going to move you forward and the place where there is clarity to make choices that feel right to you.

That place exists inside yourself.

It is up to you to choose to take a step forward to find it.

I couldn’t conclude this message without saying that I firmly believe that the quiet space available to all of us every morning is a hidden jewel.

The early morning time is available to all of us but used only by the few who are determined to move through those 5-minutes of the discomfort of getting out of the bed to do the daily practice instead of getting distracted (and busy) right away.

If you want to explore this possibility, I will be organizing an easy (and fun!) morning challenge next month. If you are interested in being part of this group, let me know!

You can send me an e-mail, book a strategy session or simply wait for my next article with additional ideas.