Dear Diary: Letting Go of the Ambition to be Extraordinary
About the episode
The tension between the desire for perfection and the profound fear of being ordinary often creates immense pressure for high achievers. You can relieve this pressure by shifting your focus from a mindset of exceptionalism to one of genuine contentment. In this episode of Hannah Hotline, Life Coach Hannah Kissel reflects on her personal journey of letting go of the ambition to be extraordinary. She discusses the impact of childhood programming on your ambitions and explains the phenomenon of post-achievement depression that occurs right after reaching your goals. She also addresses the common misconception that relationships solve personal issues and highlights why living a balanced life is absolutely crucial for your well-being.
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.
Want to see how coaching can accelerate your life and career?
Book a 15-minute coaching consultation call with Hannah.
I'm Hannah
Executive Coach, columnist, podcaster, and speaker.
My mission is to help high-performing leaders become more confident, successful, and fulfilled in their careers.

The Ultimate Career Confidence Course
Discover how to show up with more confidence in high-pressure meetings, advocate for yourself at work, and be the leader you know you can be.
Executive Coaching
If you want to learn how executive coaching can further your confidence and career, schedule a call here.








