I had Sage help me create this to deal with anxiety I get around my perfectionism, overachieving and people-pleasing masks so I can learn to mask less and live more authentically when preparing for an event or an activity that I know is going to trigger those tendencies. I thought I would share it here in case it's helpful for anyone else. The Good Enough Protocol For any situation where perfectionism, people-pleasing, or overachieving show up. The underlying fear these masks protect against: that being visibly imperfect in front of others will cost you something (love, belonging, respect, reputation as the reliable one). Phase 1: Pre-Load (2 to 3 hours before) 1a. Define "good enough" in writing. Before your in-the-moment brain can move the goalposts, write: "This is a success if ____." Keep the bar stupidly low. Think minimum viable, not maximum impressive. The perfectionist brain will try to raise it on arrival. Your pre-written version overrides the in-the-moment negotiation. 1b. Write three permission slips. Out loud or on paper. Tailor to the situation, but some evergreen ones: - I have permission to reference notes, pause, or say "let me check" - I have permission to let others do their part without my control or rescue - I have permission to be visibly uncertain without apologizing for it 1c. Nervous system prep (10 minutes). Short version of the reset: 20 jumping jacks, 2 minutes shaking, 10 physiological sighs. You're getting ahead of the cortisol, not chasing it after it spikes. Phase 2: The Threshold (on arrival, before it starts) 2a. Brief the other humans, don't download to them. If other people are involved, give them one clear job, not a full summary of your plan. This solves the "they don't know what I'm doing" anxiety by redirecting you from managing their experience to defining their contribution. 2b. Handle the uncertain logistics first. Whatever physical or practical piece you're unsure about, do that first. If it doesn't fit or work, you have time to adapt. If it does, one anxiety loop closes before you even begin.

Just finished Week 6. Six weeks ago I was burnt out, lost, and convinced I was broken. I showed up to 4am cohorts, went to bed at 8:45, wrote forgiveness letters I didn't think I had in me, and stopped losing weekends to Netflix. The biggest shift? I stopped asking "am I broken?" and started asking "how do I apply what I'm capable of?" THE STORY THAT CHANGED The old story: "I wasn't good enough. My self-esteem was linked to my job title, the number of people I looked after, and the income I earned. Was I broken?" The new story, in my own words from week 6 worksheet: "What's actually shifted for me is I am capable. I need to think about how I apply those capabilities." That's not a small edit. That's the entire operating system. "Am I broken?" → "I am capable, how do I apply this?" You went from diagnosing yourself to deploying yourself. Still got Big Rocks to move. But I'm not the same person who started this. Thank you to everyone who showed up with me. 💛 To those who have been alongside me on this journey, in particular with the personal notes, and support as I dealt with releasing inner trauma, and for my accountablity buddies, a massive big hug and thanks to you all - I look forward to continued journesy together and hope that I can be just as supportive to you all. This Zebra, is ready for a run through the breeze -

Just finished Week 6. Six weeks ago my art studio was buried in boxes wall-to-wall, floor to ceiling. I was convinced the second TBI had broken my brain for good. This morning I checked in from my studio work table. I went from 15+ productivity systems that did not work for my brain to one that actually fits my brain. AND I solved a 12-year mystery about the thread tying all my work together. I'm not lazy nor an underachiever - I never was. Grateful beyond words!

Week 6... the final week of the programme.... Honestly, I don't quite know what's waiting for me yet, but I'm diving in today. Who else is working through the last worksheet? 🙋‍♀️ Here we go... 👀

💭 Reflection: "The day kicked off with a nice start with my cohort buddies, Suliet and Diana, and we did our focus content on a couple of things, some ADHD harmony stuff, but also working on some of our future focus components. We shared ideas on how we're using Sage, which is really cool, and Diana gave me some great ideas on how to use Sage for, you know, doing a check and balance on my CV, and I hadn't even thought about using her for that, so that was really awesome. Great sharing these ideas, as well as doing some focus work. I, well, the day kind of morphed from there to a meeting with my boss where he was ranting and raving, and he used a really bad, bad swear word, so I knew how upset he was. He wasn't upset at me, but he needed my help, and I, I'm really proud of myself. I've positioned with him the fact that, hey, this task was ambiguous, not clear instructions, that I hadn't done anything like that beforehand, I hadn't even tested the software, yet you want me to write a user guide, but I managed to do it, but I did actually position with him that it won't be perfect, because, you know, I'm, I don't know how to drive the software, but it was fun. I gave it a go, and I got some good feedback from it, but I'm most proud of telling him in advance that it won't be perfect, and I did it in a nice, you know, calm way. I finished my six weeks worksheets, and that was great, and I am nervous, apprehensive, I don't know why, about tomorrow's cohort meeting at 4am, so we will be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. I might have to have a cold shower beforehand, but yeah, we'll see how we go. Good night everybody, and I'll see you tomorrow morning, or your midday, or your evening." 📊 Wellbeing Scores: 😊 Happiness: 7/10 ⚡ Energy: 6/10 🎯 Focus: 8/10 😌 Calmness: 7/10 🌙 Sleep Quality: 5/10 🔥 Motivation: 7/10 ⭐ Average: 6.7/10 ✅ Activities from yesterday: 💆 Massage 🌙 Early Bedtime ☀️ Morning Sunlight 🌬️ Breathwork 🌿 Grounding 🌃 No Screentime at Night 🥗 Healthy Eating 🥩 Hit Protein Goal