So often—both in my work and in my personal life—I notice a common internal pressure: to keep up, to do more, to perform, to be useful, productive, and successful.
This constant “rush” isn’t just physical—it’s psychological.
Many people feel they must prove their worth through how much they achieve, how efficiently they use every moment of their day.
Rest, doubt, mistakes, or delays are often felt as threats, not as natural parts of life.
We live in a world that frequently ties human worth to productivity.
Messages like:
“Don’t waste time.”
“The more you do, the more you’re worth.”
“If you didn’t succeed, you probably didn’t try hard enough.”
…push us into exhausting rhythms, driven by an inner critic that is never satisfied.
And when we don’t perform “well enough”?
We feel guilty.
We doubt ourselves.
We start questioning whether we are enough.
Dreams and “Usefulness”
In this climate, our dreams and desires are often evaluated based on their usefulness.
If they don’t generate money, visibility, or measurable results, they’re often dismissed.
As a result, we drift away from the creative, authentic parts of ourselves.
We learn to silence them in the name of “logic” or “productivity.”
And slowly, almost without noticing, the self becomes a project—and we, the workers striving to perfect it.
How This Affects Mental Health
When we live under the belief that our worth depends on what we achieve:
- We struggle to rest without guilt
- We fear failure as if it threatens our identity
- We don’t allow ourselves to pause—even when we need to
- We burn out and lose connection with meaning
This ongoing pressure can lead to:
- Anxiety
- Perfectionism
- Burnout
- A sense of emptiness—even in the midst of “success”
Redefining Worth
Human worth is not something that needs to be earned.
It doesn’t depend on whether you “kept up” or “succeeded” today.
Your value is inherent. It’s not a project.
You are allowed to exist, to breathe, to rest—and still be worthy.
Instead of asking:
“What do I need to achieve in order to be enough?”
Let’s dare to ask:
“What would I do, if I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone?”
“What do I truly need right now?”