Listen to this episode
On this episode
It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others, feeling like we should meet their standards or achieve their level of success. This can get toxic, leading us to ignore our own needs, and forget our unique limits. Instead of feeling energised and fulfilled, we end up feeling overwhelmed, and constantly coming up short.
It’s time for us to follow our own path. To note when we’re “shoulding” on ourselves, to stop feeling guilty about our differences, and ditch the idea that we’re somehow wrong for having different constraints.
If we’re always judging our success by others, or taking on too much advice, we can end up effectively living other people’s lives rather than our own. We can become stuck in a cycle of self-judgment and guilt, always striving to meet someone else’s standards and never feeling good enough. This can burn us out and leave us dissatisfied and unfulfilled.
In this quick dip episode, Rachel invites you to ask yourself whether you’re following your own path, or trying to walk someone else’s. Recognise the difference, and you can begin to make choices that align with your unique wants and needs.
Show links
Download the episode’s podsheet. You can use it for reflection and to submit for your appraisal as part of your CPD.
More episodes of You Are Not a Frog:
- How to Escape the Tyranny of the ‘Shoulds’ – Episode 196 with Charlotte Housden
- Life’s Too Short NOT to Love What You Do – Episode 209, with Dr Sarah Goulding
- How to Have More Impact with Less Effort – Episode 159
Reasons to listen
- To learn how to avoid falling into the trap of comparing yourself to others and how to embrace your unique path
- To discover the power of shifting your language from “should” to “could” in order to open up new possibilities
- To understand the importance of knowing yourself, your likes, your limits, and how to make empowered career and life decisions
Episode highlights
Knowing what brings you joy
Knowing your limits
What makes other people tick
Replacing “should” with “could”
The “I’m not different” trap
The “I’m TOO different” trap
Recognising your time-of-life
Don’t give in to fear
Episode transcript
[00:00:00] Rachel: I’ve always been quite an arrogant pedestrian. It’s not something I’m particularly proud of, but I never really been able to see the point of waiting for ages on the side of the road. If there’s a gap, you can go for it, even if you’re in a group of people. [00:00:11] I was walking along with a friend the other day, and we were walking to a cafe. We were in a group of people and I just straight across the road cause I spotted a gap and eventually they all caught up with me and I…
