The famous question: What’s next?- Sincerely, The High Achiever
High Achievers
Success! Its highly desirable and always attainable, meaning sometimes you can set a threshold and meet it and then a new one is knocking at the front door. High achievers often set ambitious goals and strive relentlessly to meet them. The journey often marked by success, can also lead to unique challenges, including heightened stress and anxiety. A noticeable difference in high achievers is that high achievers prioritize their goals around reaching them and pushing themselves outside of their comfort zones often. This a realm that they are most comfortable in, more often than not. The difference with lower achievers is that they are more concerned with avoiding failure and thus the fear is the driver in this case.
There is a huge responsibility factor when success occurs, but people may give it a different kind of narrative depending on who you are speaking with. For example, “Oh wow, that’s wonderful luck.” or “I worked hard, and the results followed.” Those are two different extremes of the intergrated belief system with the responsibility factor of success. The power of achievement takes a lot of self-control, grit, determination, willpower, and dedication.
Here comes the part where high achievers can be functioning at a higher level, but feel significantly stuck at the same time. The “stuck” feeling can be due to stress, social anxiety, internal pressure, external expectations, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, burnout, and self-control.
1. Social anxiety can be especially prevalent among high achievers, who may place immense pressure on themselves to perform and excel. Understanding the underlying factors contributing to this anxiety is essential. Many high achievers fear judgment from others, leading them to avoid social situations or interactions that might compromise their image. Or, the primary goal is their decation to thriving and the focus of socialzation becuase less of a priority. Additionally, past traumatic experiences can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.
2. Stress hinders growth in all areas and there is this level to maintain greater or higher, sometimes more is not enough. There is always something else that can be done. However, chronic stress will exacerbate symptoms on both physical and emotional well-being.
3. Internal pressure, sometimes it comes from external resources, people, or entities, but often it comes from within because it’s a part of you that has picked up the piece of satisfaction when something is complete or achieved, this is dopamine. A person who is a high achiever believes that pressure is just a part of the experience and how one crosses the finish line, but it doesn’t have to be.
4. External expectations are created within the mind and through experiences, or relationships. The external expectations are along the lines of pressure, but this is developed at a younger age. Seeking external validation from others creates the narrative of worthiness or respect when certain aspects of goals are achieved. This makes it much more diffcult to relax your nervous system and simply enjoy the experience of greatful acheivement.
5. Imposter Syndrome feels like I should be somebody else other than who I am currently. It is also that nagging feeling that you're not as competent or talented as others think you are, and that at any moment, you might be "found out" as a fraud—even though you've worked hard and achieved real success. The roots of the self-doubt are key here.
6. Perfectionism is the desire to meet impossibly high standards, often leading to stress, burnout, and dissatisfaction. While striving for excellence can be a good thing, perfectionism can turn into a trap where nothing ever feels "good enough." There are three different type of perfectionism. Self-Oriented Perfectionism – Setting excessively high standards for yourself, Socially Prescribed Perfectionism – Feeling pressure to meet others' expectations, and Other-Oriented Perfectionism – Holding others to unrealistic standards.
7. Burnout occurs when the relentless purist of goals leads to exhaustion, cynicism, and a loss of motivation. Signs of burnout include emotional exhaustion- feeling drained, unmotivated, or detached from work or loved ones and relationships. Loss of Joy – achievements feel empty instead of fulfilling, constant overworking, and struggling to rest or take breaks. Self-worth tied to productivity – feeling valuable only when accomplishing something. Irritability & anxiety – Small setbacks feel overwhelming.
8. Self-control is the puzzle piece that is often missing, but it is not everything. Self-control can get you back to feeling excited about success again, but it can also regain a lot of your mental and physical strength. The ability to regulate your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to achieve long-term goals is important. It’s what helps you resist temptations, stay disciplined, and make choices that align with your values and ambitions.
Therapy can be a valuable resource for high achievers navigating these challenges. Through therapeutic techniques, individuals can learn to manage anxiety, process traumatic experiences, and develop healthier perspectives on achievement and self-worth. This support can provide a pathway to more balanced lives where success is defined not just by accomplishments, but also by well-being and meaningful relationships.
