Extraordinarily Overwhelming

I’m so over it. 

I’m over the overwhelming amount of content to compare myself to. I’m so done with overanalysing what I’ve done and questioning whether it’s enough. I’m tired of overconsuming ‘thought leadership’ content with titles like ‘Just do this to start earning 6 figures’. 

I’m so over how oversimplified influencers make things appear; ‘It’s time to quit your job and start your own business’. Yes, you take it with a pinch of salt as they say, and yes, you decide what value to take from that content. But I still end my days feeling paralysed; questioning everything I’ve ever done.

‘Have I done enough?’, ‘Am I doing enough?’, ‘Will I achieve enough?’, ‘Why did I not get a history degree?’, ‘Maybe I should start a TikTok channel?’, ‘I am so inadequate’… 

We live in an era of extraordinary or nothing. Extraordinary or not ‘woman enough’. Extraordinary or not good enough. With the unrealistic pressures and expectations of these new woke Disney Princesses, we’re reminded that simply living and loving isn’t enough. It’s all extraordinarily overwhelming.

The curated lives and success stories create a relentless loop of comparison. It’s as if we’re caught in a race to reach milestones, accomplish goals, and display our worthiness; where the notion of contentment has been replaced by the pursuit of continuous achievement.

So how do I escape? 

I watch my beloved characters win. I’m selective and biased about the characters I choose to support. And I sometimes see them fail and learn, but more than anything, I watch them live. 

Yes, the binge culture of series and movies is not one to be proud of. Thanks, Netflix. ‘Next episode in 5…4…3…2…1’ – ‘I probably shouldn’t’, ‘It’s getting late’, ‘Oh, never mind, it’s already happening, I can’t stop now’. And, yes, in some scenarios, I probably could have spent my time doing more productive self-growth exercises or some shit. But A, it’s not a complete waste of time if it made me happy, and B, surely, I’ve walked away with some lessons. Right?

So what have all these movies, series, books, and historical moments taught me?