Podcast Summary
Unexpected physical symptoms of stress: Perfectionism can cause significant stress and tension, leading to physical symptoms and harm to personal and professional life. Seek professional help like CBT therapy to identify and manage the root cause.
Stress can manifest in unexpected ways, such as physical symptoms like numb hands or tingling fingers. In Kate's case, it was a result of her perfectionist tendencies, which she initially denied having despite the evidence. Perfectionism, if not addressed, can lead to an enormous amount of tension and stress, affecting both personal and professional life. It's essential to recognize and acknowledge these tendencies to prevent them from causing harm. If you find yourself in a similar situation, consider seeking professional help, like CBT therapy, to identify and manage the root cause of your stress. Don't be like Kate, denying the reality, and instead, be open to self-reflection and growth.
Focusing on the bigger picture instead of small setbacks: Perfectionism can distort our thinking and cause us to fixate on small issues, but it's important to remember that everyone makes mistakes and life is unpredictable. Instead, focus on the positive aspects and the bigger picture to reduce anxiety and stress.
Focusing too much on minor imperfections or mishaps in our relationships or work can lead us to overlook the bigger picture. Our perfectionistic tendencies can distort our thinking and cause us to fixate on small issues, which can then snowball into negative thoughts and emotions. For instance, a missed meeting or a small mistake can lead us to dwell on all the things we could have done differently or wrong in the past. However, it's essential to remember that everyone makes mistakes and that life is unpredictable. Instead of getting bogged down by small setbacks, we should try to zoom out and focus on the bigger picture. This means appreciating the positive aspects of our relationships and work and recognizing that small hiccups are a normal part of life. Our therapist's advice was to focus on the good things and not let small setbacks derail us from seeing the bigger picture. By doing so, we can reduce our anxiety and stress levels and maintain a more positive outlook on life.
Perspective and Progress: Maintain a broad perspective, consider the bigger picture, focus on progress and growth, and trust yourself to overcome challenges.
It's important to keep a broad perspective when dealing with challenges or negative situations. It's easy to get caught up in the details and magnify them in our minds, but doing so can limit our view and cause unnecessary stress. Instead, take a step back and consider the bigger picture. Look at all the elements that make up the situation, not just the one that may be causing anxiety or frustration. By doing this, we can gain a more balanced and accurate understanding of the situation and approach it with more clarity and confidence. Additionally, it's important to remember that we are all works in progress and that striving for perfection is an unrealistic and unhealthy goal. Instead, focus on progress and growth, and be kind to yourself along the way. Remember, you have 100% got this! So, when you find yourself fixating on a tiny detail, take a deep breath and zoom out to see the whole picture. Trust yourself and your abilities, and keep moving forward. You'll be surprised at how much more peaceful and productive your mindset will be. As a reminder, I'll be back tomorrow with a journal prompt to help you explore this idea further. Have a great day!
