Dear Crystal:

I agree with your evaluation of the supervisors, and you are very welcome. Post again anytime you would like my input and I will gladly reply to you.

“I think I need to harden myself and try to occasionally be in my own corner rather than shaming myself… I can make mistakes and when my mistake wasn’t fueled by bad intentions or causing harm to anyone, it’s okay. I have to be kinder to myself. And learn that it’s okay to make mistakes“- perfectly said, if I may say so!

“Trying to live up to everyone’s version of ‘ideal’ employee or student will only cause me trouble“- trying to live up (or down, more likely) to everyone’s version of ideal is called people pleasing. People pleasing is far from being ideal and will indeed cause you trouble. Aim at pleasing not what’s convenient self-serving for others (their subjective ideal); but instead, aim at pleasing what you believe is truly and objectively ideal.

anita