I agree that lowering the bar isn't the solution. Trying is better than lowering standards. But in my case, I feel like I'm in a constant tug-of-war. One part says your standards are too high, that's why you get all the anxieties and downs. You should lower them and be kinder to yourself. Prioritize your well-being. The other part says the world has high standards because it wants you to deliver only the best results. And the best results work. You don't want to give something that doesn't work, right?

Will there ever be a compromise between choosing to pursue high standards without succumbing to the pressure and sacrificing well-being?

Sometimes, I'm wondering, is it really that standards are too high, or if I'm just used to comfort and would complain every time I have to do something inconvenient or difficult.