I have always been an overachiever. I do too much. All day, everyday.
When sports ended, I put that energy into work. And now that I’ve decided I don’t want to give my all to work anymore, I’ve struggled with what my value is.
Who am I when I am not overachieving? What do I bring to the table if I’m not trying to be the best at everything?
For a while I didn’t think I had value outside of those things. I thought that’s all I was.
Truth is, I’m also funny, kind, loyal, fun, adventurous and so many other things. I bring so much to the table that has nothing to do with overachieving at things.
And to be honest, what I do for a living, it’s the least interesting thing about me.
My value outside of overachieving has more to do with how I love myself and how I make others feel.
So I’ve focused more on overachieving in LIFE. In the things that really matter. I put that do too much energy into time with the people I love, travel, fitness — things that bring me joy.
And I’m working really hard at remembering that matters more than anything else, creating a full overachieved LIFE.
At the end of it all, as cliche as it is, nobody cares or remembers the meetings they crushed or the projects they nailed. We remember the times we spent with people we love and enjoying the things we are passionate about.
I know most of you are probably sitting here thinking, this is basic life stuff, nothing profound about it!
It’s profound for me, and a lot of folks like me. We are taught to be the best for so long at sports and school and work that we don’t understand the normal way of living. We don’t know how to prioritize things that don’t lead to awards and scholarships and promotions.
Learning to live and enjoy LIFE is new. And it feels counterproductive and goes against everything we’ve ever been taught. It’s a lot to unlearn.
So if you’re like me, give yourself a shot at living life to its fullest. In overachieving at the stuff that fills you up. Start small. It might mean doing something each day that doesn’t contribute to your job. Do a puzzle, grab a coffee with a friend, get a workout in doing something you love doing, cook a healthy meal. The point is to select something that brings you joy, but it’s not something you can “win.” Do it because it’s enjoyable and makes you feel good.
Go ahead and challenge yourself to keep on overachieving — but only at the things that really matter.