tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post3224339720560288621..comments2024-03-17T03:22:22.674-04:00Comments on ED Bites: At what price success?Carrie Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02569839838912988783noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-91243935716114336602010-01-27T18:34:42.181-05:002010-01-27T18:34:42.181-05:00i feel just like her... the good to bad skating......i feel just like her... the good to bad skating.... thinkin of quitting.... EATING DISORDER.... deppression... *sigh*..... school..... the growth spurt.... low self esteem.....<br /><br />wat do i do?Briahnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-8629613565965363742010-01-26T22:47:12.241-05:002010-01-26T22:47:12.241-05:00You so eloquently describe the battle that rages o...You so eloquently describe the battle that rages on inside my head. Thank you for your astute observations; this is one of my favorite posts that you've written!K-pediahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08842726464974857152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-1594028899712302452010-01-26T21:18:43.339-05:002010-01-26T21:18:43.339-05:00I have a similar experience to share. Similar, but...I have a similar experience to share. Similar, but not identical. I, too, am always striving to be the best, and want to be seen as the best by others. It's hard for me to take criticism, even well-meaning and educated criticism. <br /><br />On the other hand, I am too "lazy" to beat myself up over it. I have a really strong flat effect with my emotions, especially when I have to express those emotions. Isolated and unreadable are very common terms used to describe me. This is actually a double-edged sword. Having a flat affect allows my mind to stay calm so that I can think rationally. "Okay, calm down. It was just one time. Look at everything else you've done." "Hey, you're new at this. Give it time and practice." "Forget them. They aren't worth your time." All that stuff. <br /><br />The problem is that when people can't read my emotions, they assume I just don't care, and I get an apathetic, lazy, callous, etc. label put on me. That makes me feel even more insecure about what I've done or even what kind of person I am.<br /><br />So it hasn't taken over me, but it's always in the back of my mind. It's like being hard of hearing and having your inner perfectionist shrieking at a frequency too high to hear clearly. <br /><br />So that's my experience, but I was also thinking about how this mentality ties into our country's current obsession with "healthy lifestyles." Basically, the whole purpose of life is avoiding disease and death, and convincing other people that you are sufficiently committe to these goals. Well, life is very miserable, very empty if those are the only things in your life, let me tell you.<br /><br />Besides, want to know a major deterrent to disease and death in a lot of cases? CONTENTMENT. Happy people live longer.:)Adriannanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-7819885918783830452010-01-26T12:46:45.949-05:002010-01-26T12:46:45.949-05:00I definitely relate to the school/anorexia/success...I definitely relate to the school/anorexia/success connection, as you know. I remember telling you about how I locked myself in a closet once because I got a bad grade (meaning, less than an "A" on a quiz -- not a test, a quiz). I've always been an extreme perfectionist, and when I accomplish, I have that feeling of dread. I don't have excited anticipation; it's more of that hopelessness with the "what's next?" panic. I think being so hard on oneself and setting such high standards (not just for the achievement in question, for what that achievement will bring) is a big set-up for unhappiness (or, a good ol' eating disorder to ward off the unhappiness and infuse some filler mission). I've followed gymnastics since I was a little kid and I can see the difference between the athletes who are super hard on themselves and those who view the road to the Olympics as a journey. It's sad to see what pressure (self-imposed or otherwise) can do.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12524913753671188764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-13951638789533351222010-01-26T01:52:25.127-05:002010-01-26T01:52:25.127-05:00This was on NPR this morning. I also felt so badly...This was on NPR this morning. I also felt so badly for her! I could relate to the feeling.now.is.nowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05102652111745735039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-18028081578484092512010-01-26T01:49:10.518-05:002010-01-26T01:49:10.518-05:00Your point about the process being overlooked in f...Your point about the process being overlooked in favour of the end goal was something that has/is helping me overcome my own perfectionism...in fact I've just written my own post about something similar!<br /><br />It's a bit like life in general...we miss out on so much if we just focus on where we're going to end up.<br /><br />Sarah xmariposaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06034092323139133367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-83774750230612778932010-01-25T21:39:36.040-05:002010-01-25T21:39:36.040-05:00I think so many of us feel like this--never good e...I think so many of us feel like this--never good enough even with the accolades, the awards, the medals, the compliments, etc. It's a hard battle, and I'm often fighting with myself over it.<br /><br />When we see young athletes, stars, etc. who feel similarly, it just brings to light what an awful scenario it can be. It's a reminder that no one is immune to it and asks the age old question of about where to draw the line between success and happiness and what is truly is.Tiptoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17388368645986593755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561748834204284315.post-33297995197172095892010-01-25T21:34:11.635-05:002010-01-25T21:34:11.635-05:00I never feel like a measure up. Not after two degr...I never feel like a measure up. Not after two degrees, starting graduate school and two professional careers. This poor little girl! A lifetime of never feeling good enough, smart enough, pretty enough. It breaks my heart.Angela Elain Gambrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08199876962091491591noreply@blogger.com