Self-discipline can be your worst enemy

"Looking back, I think the incident happened because I was at an internal breaking point between who I had been and who I was becoming. It was Blair's first indication that the self-discipline she imposed on herself-insisting that she could do everything perfectly on her own-wasn't healthy. In addition to the significant stress of her high-pressure job, she was also still carrying the grief of losing her partner five years earlier."

"Some high-performing colleagues seem to do everything just right. They're controlled and committed. They collect achievements and optimize every moment. However, the very self-discipline and control that can spur achievement can also veer into negative territory. Overcontrol has been linked to chronic depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other issues."

"Many high performers believe more discipline is better, and that often leads to burnout, exhaustion, and other negative outcomes. Licensed counseling and sports psychologist Blakely Low-Sampson sees this often in her work with executives and athletes, observing that the pursuit of perfect control undermines wellbeing."

Val Blair, a successful marketing executive, experienced vertigo while climbing a mountain and initially refused help, believing she could manage alone. This incident revealed her unhealthy reliance on self-discipline and control to handle everything independently. Blair was carrying unprocessed grief from losing her partner five years earlier while managing high-pressure work stress. Her body signaled that her approach of pushing through regardless of emotional state needed to change. High performers often equate more discipline with better outcomes, but excessive control has been linked to chronic depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and burnout. Licensed psychologist Blakely Low-Sampson observes this pattern frequently in executives and athletes.

Read at Fast Company