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No offense, but if producing a result within a time frame is causing severe anxiety I think a more.. holistic approach is warranted. It’s not fear, it’s being

No offense, but if producing a result within a time frame is causing severe anxiety I think a more.. holistic approach is warranted. It’s not fear, it’s being real: can you do this, with the parameters given or not? If not, great, no problem, but don’t tell yourself you are a “perfectionist”. You might be, but who can tell if you never produce? You just can’t do it right now and that’s perfectly alright. Being honest matters IME. You hit the nail on its head there: there exists the possibility that “your best” is actually mediocre. You better acknowledge that sooner rather than later if you wish to live in reality which I deeply suggest you want to at least attempt. If you know wicked smart people like, say, T. Tao you will quickly develop the ability to accept you might just be mediocre and that’s OK. Myself, I am completely mediocre and have a hard time hitting simple goals. There.

mewpmewp2 2y ago
What does "mediocre" even mean? That's a relative and subjective statement. Why bring that in? Are you mediocre in coding compared to 100% of the population in the World? Surely not, since most people do not know how to code. Are you mediocre compared to top 0.001% coders in the World. Unless you are not in the top there, and you are comparing yourself to them, then you are worse than mediocre. Because you would only be mediocre compared to them if you are around the top 0.0005%.
- FrojoS 2y ago
  There is a simple test. Look at the result. Imagine someone else produced it. Would you think "This is very well done."? If not, it's "mediocre" at best. Reminds me of Ira Glass: “All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.” source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2wLP0izeJE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2wLP0izeJE
- huygens6363 2y ago
  Forest, trees. Keep it simple. Mediocrity is most definitely not subjective. It is context-dependent, sure, but subjectivity is something else entirely. I did not bring it in, the parent did and with good reason. It’s one of the causes of procrastination and fear.

mewpmewp2 2y ago

What does "mediocre" even mean? That's a relative and subjective statement. Why bring that in? Are you mediocre in coding compared to 100% of the population in the World? Surely not, since most people do not know how to code. Are you mediocre compared to top 0.001% coders in the World. Unless you are not in the top there, and you are comparing yourself to them, then you are worse than mediocre. Because you would only be mediocre compared to them if you are around the top 0.0005%.

FrojoS 2y ago
There is a simple test. Look at the result. Imagine someone else produced it. Would you think "This is very well done."? If not, it's "mediocre" at best. Reminds me of Ira Glass: “All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.” source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2wLP0izeJE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2wLP0izeJE
huygens6363 2y ago
Forest, trees. Keep it simple. Mediocrity is most definitely not subjective. It is context-dependent, sure, but subjectivity is something else entirely. I did not bring it in, the parent did and with good reason. It’s one of the causes of procrastination and fear.