I told my therapist,
"I feel bored when everything is calm. I only feel alive when I'm stressed."
She didn't give me comfort.
Hearing her, my whole body went still.
Here's what she just replied:
"I feel bored when everything is calm. I only feel alive when I'm stressed."
She didn't give me comfort.
Hearing her, my whole body went still.
Here's what she just replied:
1. You are addicted to Cortisol
You aren't "driven." You are chemically dependent on your own stress hormones.
Your baseline is fight-or-flight.
When peace arrives, your body goes into withdrawal.
You create problems just to get your fix.
You aren't "driven." You are chemically dependent on your own stress hormones.
Your baseline is fight-or-flight.
When peace arrives, your body goes into withdrawal.
You create problems just to get your fix.
2. Peace feels like "Danger"
To a nervous system raised in chaos, safety feels suspicious.
You are waiting for the other shoe to drop.
So you drop it yourself, just to get it over with.
You are preemptively ruining your own peace to control the outcome.
To a nervous system raised in chaos, safety feels suspicious.
You are waiting for the other shoe to drop.
So you drop it yourself, just to get it over with.
You are preemptively ruining your own peace to control the outcome.
3. The "Productivity" Mask
You use "being busy" to avoid "being."
If you stop moving, the thoughts you've been running from will catch up.
Stress is your shield against introspection.
You are terrified of silence because silence speaks the truth.
You use "being busy" to avoid "being."
If you stop moving, the thoughts you've been running from will catch up.
Stress is your shield against introspection.
You are terrified of silence because silence speaks the truth.
4. You conflate "Intensity" with "Importance"
You think if it’s not hard, it doesn’t count.
You think if you aren't suffering, you aren't working.
This is a lie.
Effective work is often calm, steady, and boring.
Drama is not a KPI.
You think if it’s not hard, it doesn’t count.
You think if you aren't suffering, you aren't working.
This is a lie.
Effective work is often calm, steady, and boring.
Drama is not a KPI.
5. The "Hero" Complex
You love being the one who puts out the fires.
It makes you feel needed. Indispensable.
But if you are always the firefighter, you might be the arsonist, too.
Stop lighting matches just to prove you can save the day.
You love being the one who puts out the fires.
It makes you feel needed. Indispensable.
But if you are always the firefighter, you might be the arsonist, too.
Stop lighting matches just to prove you can save the day.
6. Boredom is a filter
You think boredom is a problem to solve.
Actually, boredom is a filter for what matters.
When the noise stops, only the essential remains.
You are afraid to see what's left when the adrenaline fades.
You think boredom is a problem to solve.
Actually, boredom is a filter for what matters.
When the noise stops, only the essential remains.
You are afraid to see what's left when the adrenaline fades.
7. The "Survival" Mode Loop
You are still operating like you are in danger.
But the war is over.
You are a soldier in peacetime, digging trenches in your backyard.
Put down the shovel. Look around. You are safe.
You are still operating like you are in danger.
But the war is over.
You are a soldier in peacetime, digging trenches in your backyard.
Put down the shovel. Look around. You are safe.
8. You mistrust ease
If something comes easily, you think it's a trap.
"It can't be this simple."
So you overcomplicate it. You add layers of unnecessary friction.
You are sabotaging your own efficiency because you don't believe you deserve an easy win.
If something comes easily, you think it's a trap.
"It can't be this simple."
So you overcomplicate it. You add layers of unnecessary friction.
You are sabotaging your own efficiency because you don't believe you deserve an easy win.
9. The "Validation" of Exhaustion
You wear your burnout like a medal.
"I'm so tired" is your way of saying "I am important."
If you aren't exhausted, you feel guilty.
Rest is not a crime. It's a requirement.
You wear your burnout like a medal.
"I'm so tired" is your way of saying "I am important."
If you aren't exhausted, you feel guilty.
Rest is not a crime. It's a requirement.
10. Chaos is a poor fuel source
You can run on adrenaline for a sprint.
You cannot run on it for a marathon.
Eventually, the engine explodes.
Switch your fuel source from "fear" to "purpose."
It burns cleaner and lasts longer.
You can run on adrenaline for a sprint.
You cannot run on it for a marathon.
Eventually, the engine explodes.
Switch your fuel source from "fear" to "purpose."
It burns cleaner and lasts longer.
11. You are avoiding intimacy
Chaos keeps people at a distance.
"I'm too busy right now."
It's the perfect excuse to not show up for people emotionally.
You are hiding behind your schedule.
Chaos keeps people at a distance.
"I'm too busy right now."
It's the perfect excuse to not show up for people emotionally.
You are hiding behind your schedule.
12. The "Future" Trap
You live entirely in "What's Next?"
You never inhabit "What Is."
Stress is just the friction of your mind trying to be somewhere your body isn't.
Come back to the room you are in.
You live entirely in "What's Next?"
You never inhabit "What Is."
Stress is just the friction of your mind trying to be somewhere your body isn't.
Come back to the room you are in.
13. Regulating is uncomfortable
Learning to relax will feel physically painful at first.
Your skin will crawl. You will feel "lazy."
Sit with it.
You are retraining your nervous system to tolerate well-being.
It takes practice.
Learning to relax will feel physically painful at first.
Your skin will crawl. You will feel "lazy."
Sit with it.
You are retraining your nervous system to tolerate well-being.
It takes practice.
14. "Good" stress vs. "Bad" stress
Eustress (good stress) helps you grow. Distress (bad stress) breaks you down.
You have stopped distinguishing between the two.
Not every email is a tiger.
Calibrate your threat detection system.
Eustress (good stress) helps you grow. Distress (bad stress) breaks you down.
You have stopped distinguishing between the two.
Not every email is a tiger.
Calibrate your threat detection system.
15. The Identity Crisis
Who are you without the crisis?
Who are you without the hustle?
This is the question that scares you the most.
You are afraid you are boring.
(Spoiler: You aren't. You're just exhausted.)
Who are you without the crisis?
Who are you without the hustle?
This is the question that scares you the most.
You are afraid you are boring.
(Spoiler: You aren't. You're just exhausted.)
16. The Final Truth
She looked at me and said:
"You are waiting for the world to stop spinning so you can get off.
But the world will never stop.
You have to jump off the carousel while it's still moving.
Peace is not a destination. It is a decision you make in the middle of the chaos."
I stopped checking my email.
I took a deep breath.
The world didn't end.
She looked at me and said:
"You are waiting for the world to stop spinning so you can get off.
But the world will never stop.
You have to jump off the carousel while it's still moving.
Peace is not a destination. It is a decision you make in the middle of the chaos."
I stopped checking my email.
I took a deep breath.
The world didn't end.
I hope you've found this thread helpful.
Follow me @aibytekat for more.
Like/Repost the quote below if you can:
Follow me @aibytekat for more.
Like/Repost the quote below if you can:
https://twitter.com/1968419781444333568/status/2029927225722802254
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
