Episode 10, Season 1 Finale: Breaking Up With My Job + Perfection Paralysis

The Adults Aren't Alright Season 1 Finale, Episode 10: Breaking Up With My Job + Perfection Paralysis

Welcome to the season one finale! A big thank you to everyone who listened, shared, liked, commented, and subscribed. This podcast has been a dream of mine for years and it’s so rewarding to have put a bow on season one.

In today’s finale episode, I’m talking imposter syndrome, perfection paralysis, and how these beliefs keep up playing small in our lives.

I recently left my job of nearly 15 years, but in reality, I should’ve left years ago. There are several reasons I stayed for as long as I did, but the main reason was I didn’t think anyone else would want to hire me (!!!) or that if I was hired by another company, they’d soon find out I wasn’t nearly as smart as I pretended to be. Again– !!!

In examining this (silly, unfounded) belief, I realized that this imposter syndrome was also tinged with perfection paralysis. Because I wasn’t “perfect” at whatever new job I might get, I shouldn’t leave my current job. This makes zero sense when you say it out loud; of course you aren’t perfect at a job you don’t even have yet! And here’s another thing: no one is perfect at their job! And yet, I stayed and settled at an abusive organization because I was too scared and insecure in my own value to leave.

In this episode:

  • Imposter syndrome as it relates to staying at a job too long because you’re terrified no one else will hire you
  • The constant feeling of “being discovered” that you’re not smart/good/capable enough re: career
  • Perfection paralysis and how it keeps us from doing things/making moves
  • Stepping through the perfection paralysis and finding yourself in a career you enjoy at an organization that values you
  • How perfection paralysis can negatively impact not only our own personal happiness but our abilities to be good friends, allies, etc.

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