“We try too hard, and it’s a waste of my time.

I’m done looking for the critics ‘cause they’re everywhere.

Pretty, pretty please, don’t you ever ever feel

Like you’re less than fuckin’ perfect.”

-P!nk

One of the most universal — and impactful — things I encourage people to subtract is unhelpful thinking.

Of which we all have different flavor preferences, but some favorites include:

• self-doubt (Was that good / nice / helpful / etc enough?)

• impression management (How can I make sure they like my work / my performance / me?)

• reaction rumination (What did they mean when they said… or didn’t say…?)

• over-optimizing (What am I not doing enough of? How could I fit 1% more into my day?)

• comparison (What would they have said/done/felt?)

While it is awesome (and important!) to be a reflective person, I am seeing more and more clearly that these patterns can easily shift from honest self-improvement to distracting and depleting energy drains.

What thought patterns do you fall into that may not actually be helping you to show up as your best self, and contribute all that you have to give?

Day 51, Subtraction Summer School