Work & Perfectionism
I Wasn't Scared of the Email (I Was Scared of What Came After)
Overthinking at work can mean hours rewriting one email. My fundraising story explores the fear of making mistakes and why recovery matters.
3 min read
Read article Brittany Martin Déjean
Articles
Real stories about the Fear of Messing Up, the patterns that keep us stuck, and what happens when we interrupt them.
12 articles
Rest & Joy
What If You Actually Do Have Time?
Is it a time problem or a fear problem? A trampoline-park story about overthinking, safer tasks, and making room for what you actually want.
3 min read
Read article Rest & Joy
Why Aren't We Having More Fun? (And How FOMU Kills Joy)
Fear of messing up can crowd out rest and play. A Backstreet Boys ride sparked a question: why are we not making more time for joy?
2 min read
Read article Rest & Joy
What Does FOMU Have to Do With a Pink House?
Overthinking decisions can keep even a pink house on hold. A real story about fear of making mistakes, second-guessing, and choosing what you want.
2 min read
Read article Work & Perfectionism
When Things Don't Go to Plan: What Real Recovery Looks Like
When things do not go to plan, fear of making mistakes can turn an outcome into self-blame. A personal story of choosing curiosity instead.
2 min read
Read article FOMU & Overthinking
Why You Apologize Before Anything Actually Goes Wrong
Fear of making mistakes can have you apologizing before anything goes wrong. My story of overthinking, imagined anger, and deleting the apology drafts.
3 min read
Read article Rest & Joy
Two Weeks Offline: Confronting the Guilt of Not Working
Feeling guilty about not working can follow you on vacation. My story of disconnecting, catching the what-ifs, and letting rest be enough.
3 min read
Read article FOMU & Overthinking
Crying on the Floor of JFK: A Lesson in Falling Apart
My personal journey with flight anxiety, and what it taught me about recognizing fear patterns, taking action, and understanding FOMU.
7 min read
Read article FOMU & Overthinking
MY TIME: Calculating the Hidden Hours Stolen by Rumination
Replaying conversations, rewriting emails, and self-criticism take time. A workshop story about recognizing the cost of overthinking and rumination.
2 min read
Read article Work & Perfectionism
You've Done the Work. So Why Are You Still Overthinking?
Still overthinking after therapy, coaching, or personal development? Explore the fear of making mistakes beneath the pattern and the role of connection.
2 min read
Read article FOMU & Overthinking
The 3 Phases of the FOMU Loop
Wondering how to stop overthinking? Start by recognizing the FOMU cycle: fear of making mistakes, the mistake itself, and the recovery that follows.
2 min read
Read article Work & Perfectionism
The Hidden Cost of Avoidance
Fear of making mistakes at work can delay conversations, silence feedback, and make innovation feel risky. Explore the hidden cost of avoidance.
2 min read
Read article Want real talk on messing up?
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