I get it, and your point is an important part of the overarching narrative. In some ways, this post is slightly out of context, in that there are two sides to the coin: the systems that create ridiculous amounts of pressure, and the individual who is in that context. For the latter, it can feel like you have no options but to bear with a broken system or leave (if you’re privileged enough to do so); this post intends to empower people to flip the script and give examples on how to actively manage up. More importantly, it points out that there is an incredible internal pressure that many people place on themselves to achieve, and addresses the internal narrative that often fuels the behavior.

In trauma therapy, there’s a philosophy that trauma happens to you, but you own the triggers and the reaction to those triggers. This post intends to equip more people to understand the behavior and own what they can in situations they aren’t necessarily empowered to control.

Again, appreciate you pressure testing the concepts in this post. I agree with you that we should be advocating for healthier workplaces and hold the healthy boundaries to not feel this way. Not everyone is wired to accept or adhere to these boundaries, which is why I felt this post was necessary.