Feeling guilty for not wanting to be exceptional all the time.
FEELING GUILTY FOR NOT WANTING TO BE EXCEPTIONAL ALL THE TIME.
Follow for more insights on navigating your unique journey.
From the moment you received that acceptance, a powerful identity began to shape you. The expectation of continuous excellence, forged in the halls of these revered institutions, often becomes a silent, relentless companion. We’re taught to strive, to lead, to innovate, and anything less can feel like a personal failing.
This culture, while incredibly inspiring, can also breed a quiet guilt. The feeling that wanting a moment of peace, or simply wanting to be good enough without being the best, is somehow letting down your legacy or your peers. It’s a pressure cooker where "average" sometimes feels like a dirty word.
But here’s a truth we often forget: Your value isn't tied to an unbroken chain of extraordinary achievements. Your experience at these institutions shaped your intellect, your network, your worldview, and for that, it's invaluable. Yet, it does not, and should not, define your entire worth or dictate every aspiration. It’s a part of you, not the whole of you.
It's okay to be human. It's okay to seek balance. It's okay to embrace moments of quiet contentment without feeling the need to conquer the next summit. True strength often lies in recognizing when to pause, when to nurture yourself, and when to allow your multifaceted identity to breathe beyond the academic and professional spotlight. Give yourself permission to just be.