We're told from childhood to put our best foot forward. It's advice meant to inspire pride and diligence—but for many of us, it becomes a relentless standard. When "best" has no boundaries, effort turns into obligation, and excellence begins to feel like survival.

My father's voice still rings in my mind: "Don't do a half-ass job." He meant to teach discipline and integrity, and I took it to heart. But somewhere along the way, that lesson evolved into a rule: If I wasn't giving everything, I wasn't enough. If I slowed down, I feared slipping. And so I kept accelerating, one foot pressed firmly on the gas, unsure how........

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