Why Smart People Stay Stuck: The Perfectionism Trap
Asya Rachitsky Asya Rachitsky

Why Smart People Stay Stuck: The Perfectionism Trap

You have incredibly high standards. You notice details others miss. You care deeply about doing things right. These sound like strengths, right? So why do they sometimes feel like a curse? If you're someone who struggles to start projects because they might not be perfect, who rewrites emails five times before sending them, or who feels like your best is never quite good enough—this post is for you.

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The Hidden Struggle of High-Functioning Anxiety: When 'Having It Together' Falls Apart
Asya Rachitsky Asya Rachitsky

The Hidden Struggle of High-Functioning Anxiety: When 'Having It Together' Falls Apart

You look successful on paper. Good job, stable relationships, impressive achievements. Friends come to you for advice, family leans on you during tough times. From the outside, it seems like you've got life figured out. But inside? Inside feels like a completely different story. Inside, you're running on empty, second-guessing every decision, and carrying a constant hum of anxiety that nobody else seems to notice. You've gotten so good at appearing calm and capable that even you sometimes forget how exhausted you are from holding it all together. This is high-functioning anxiety—and you're not alone.

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Why Baby Steps Matter More Than Big Leaps
Asya Rachitsky Asya Rachitsky

Why Baby Steps Matter More Than Big Leaps

Growth doesn’t usually arrive in a single leap. It’s made of small, ordinary choices — baby steps on a winding road. They don’t look heroic, but they’re what makes the ground solid beneath us.

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The Importance of Asking (the Right) Questions
Asya Rachitsky Asya Rachitsky

The Importance of Asking (the Right) Questions

We often stamp a day as bad without realizing we skipped the most important step—asking questions. By breaking a harsh conclusion into gentler questions, we can widen our perspective, soften our bodies, and reclaim a sense of choice. This practice isn’t about perfection; it’s about building a kinder relationship with ourselves, one small question at a time.

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When Anger Is Sacred: Letting Go of the Performance of Being ‘Okay’
Asya Rachitsky Asya Rachitsky

When Anger Is Sacred: Letting Go of the Performance of Being ‘Okay’

We’re often taught that anger is something to suppress—especially if we want to be seen as kind, calm, or “put together.” But what if anger isn’t the problem? What if it’s a sacred messenger, a doorway back to desire, truth, and self-worth? In this blog post, I explore the emotional cost of performing okayness—and share a raw, poetic reflection on reclaiming anger as a vital part of healing.

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What If Feeling Lonely Doesn’t Mean Something Is Wrong With You?
Asya Rachitsky Asya Rachitsky

What If Feeling Lonely Doesn’t Mean Something Is Wrong With You?

Loneliness doesn’t always look like what we expect. Sometimes it shows up at dinner with acquaintances, or on a birthday that feels quieter than it should. In therapy, I often meet people who carry loneliness not because they’re doing something wrong—but because they’re wired for connection, and that need hasn’t been met in the ways they’ve longed for. In this post, I explore the quieter dimensions of loneliness, how our past shapes our sense of belonging, and what healing can look like when we stop trying to “fix” ourselves and start relating to our complexity with compassion.

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The Versions of Me I Almost Became
Asya Rachitsky Asya Rachitsky

The Versions of Me I Almost Became

Have you ever wondered who you might have become if things had gone just a little differently? In this reflective piece, I explore the “almost selves” we carry—what they reveal about our grief, longing, and hope for healing.

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How to Start Trusting Yourself (Even When You Feel Full of Doubt)
Asya Rachitsky Asya Rachitsky

How to Start Trusting Yourself (Even When You Feel Full of Doubt)

What if the part of you that hesitates isn’t wrong — just scared, just protecting something precious?

So many of us were taught to second-guess our own knowing, to look outside for answers, validation, even permission. But there’s a quiet voice inside you that’s still speaking — even if it’s whispering through the noise.

In this post, we’ll explore what it really means to rebuild trust with yourself. Not through perfection or getting it all right, but through listening, gentleness, and small moments of self-honoring. Whether you’re facing self-worth struggles, people-pleasing, or decision paralysis, this is an invitation to come home to the wisdom already within you.

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