Dear Diary: Letting Go of the Ambition to be Extraordinary

By

Hannah Kissel

July 29, 2025

•

16

min

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About the episode

In this episode of the Big F*cking Dreams podcast, Life Coach Hannah Kissel explores the tension between the desire for perfection and the acceptance of imperfection. She reflects on her personal journey of wanting to be extraordinary while grappling with the fear of being ordinary. Through her experiences and insights, she discusses the impact of childhood programming on her ambitions, the challenges of high achievement, and the phenomenon of post-achievement depression. Ultimately, she emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from exceptionalism to contentment and living a balanced life.

Key Takeaways:

Hannah embraces imperfection and believes in progress over perfection.
She has a strong desire to be extraordinary, which she grapples with.
The fear of being ordinary can hinder personal growth and aspirations.
Childhood programming influences our beliefs about success and achievement.
High achievers often face post-achievement depression after reaching their goals.
Hannah reflects on the misconception that relationships solve personal issues.
She acknowledges the need to shift from a mindset of exceptionalism to one of contentment.
Living a balanced life is crucial for mental health and well-being.
Hannah is in a process of self-discovery and personal growth.
She invites feedback from her audience to better support her community.

Hi there, I'm Hannah

Executive Coach, podcaster, speaker, writer, and builder of big f*cking Dreams. My mission? To help ambitious professionals build self-acceptance, self-trust in their careers.

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