tertiary · Perfectionism

Striving

Part of the Shame & Guilt Wheel

What is Striving?

Pushing constantly beyond what's already achieved. The bar moves every time you reach it.

When you might feel striving

Striving is a specific form of never-enough, which itself is a type of perfectionism. You might experience this feeling in situations where perfectionism is present, particularly when the circumstances align with the nuances that define striving.

Emotional Hierarchy

PerfectionismNever-EnoughStriving

Explore Striving on the Interactive Wheel

Use our free interactive feeling wheel to explore striving and discover related emotions.

Open Shame & Guilt Wheel

Related Emotions

Falling-Short

Always aware of the gap between where you are and where you believe you should b...

Can't-Rest

Unable to feel okay until everything is done perfectly. Rest feels unearned....

Paralysed

Not starting because not finishing perfectly is too threatening....

Procrastinating

Delaying as a way to avoid the possibility of imperfect output....

Blowing Up Mistakes

A single error becomes evidence of total inadequacy....

Approval-Seeking

Organising behaviour around gaining others' positive regard. Your sense of worth...

Back to Feeling Wheel