Stephen Guise

In addition, school teaches us that “‘A’ efforts” bring “‘A’ results.” Real life shows us that “‘A’ efforts” only give us a chance at “‘A’ results.” Students can go out into the job market, do all the right things, and still get a real-life “F” when they aren’t selected for a job. This is the ideal breeding ground for perfectionistic thinking.

The only real security is knowing and accepting who you are right now.

If you overestimate others, you’d have to be perfect just to meet their level.

If you see yourself as subpar, you’d have to be perfect just to seem average in your own eyes.

. It all works out the same in that an inferiority complex is

based on unfair standards

“In truth,” she says, “what it does is keep us from being seen.”6 If you’re unseen, you can’t be embarrassed, but does anyone really want to remain unseen? Being seen and even embarrassed occasionally is an essential part of life

Desire for greatness and fear of inadequacy

it’s not the literal consequences of failure that scare us; it’s the idea that we could fail at something we desire greatly.

90% of an iceberg’s mass, would be the fear of failure.