Leon’s Existential Cafe
@leonscafe.bsky.social
Mental Health Counselor and writer, using ideas as medicine.
She noticed her perfectionism mirrored in Lyra, and instead of feeding it—after all, Lyra’s performance directly influenced Beck’s career and legacy—resolved to silence it. Effectively, in attempting to quiet Lyra’s inner critic, she helped silence her own. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Self-Importance Underlying Your Fear of Making Mistakes
Sometimes, we exaggerate the importance of a mistake because doing so makes us feel important, but there are better ways to create meaning, even from our mistakes.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:26 PM
She noticed her perfectionism mirrored in Lyra, and instead of feeding it—after all, Lyra’s performance directly influenced Beck’s career and legacy—resolved to silence it. Effectively, in attempting to quiet Lyra’s inner critic, she helped silence her own. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
I often tell people that I’m disappointed when I realize the discrepancy between my perception of a mistake and that of others. In some twisted way, I want my mistake to matter more because I want to matter more. I want it to be deep. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Self-Importance Underlying Your Fear of Making Mistakes
Sometimes, we exaggerate the importance of a mistake because doing so makes us feel important, but there are better ways to create meaning, even from our mistakes.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:11 PM
I often tell people that I’m disappointed when I realize the discrepancy between my perception of a mistake and that of others. In some twisted way, I want my mistake to matter more because I want to matter more. I want it to be deep. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Reynolds’ fear of emotions can be reduced to his fear of depression — patients with bipolar disorder note they fear manic or hypomanic states, and even just basic happiness, because they know what follows them. Often, they use perfectionism as a levee. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Reynolds’ fear of emotions can be reduced to his fear of depression — patients with bipolar disorder note they fear manic or hypomanic states, and even just basic happiness, because they know what follows them. Often, they use perfectionism as a levee. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Reynolds is at odds with the world, and its too frequent preoccupation with popularity over quality, and himself, unable to discontinue the extreme and cyclical nature of his emotional states. He displayed symptoms of what appeared to be bipolar disorder. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Reynolds is at odds with the world, and its too frequent preoccupation with popularity over quality, and himself, unable to discontinue the extreme and cyclical nature of his emotional states. He displayed symptoms of what appeared to be bipolar disorder. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
If you fear making mistakes, you’re likely a perfectionist. While many accept mistakes as a key part of growth, perfectionists tend to form a deep sense of meaning around them, which may or may not be true. In perfectionism, mistakes speak to one’s essence. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:02 AM
If you fear making mistakes, you’re likely a perfectionist. While many accept mistakes as a key part of growth, perfectionists tend to form a deep sense of meaning around them, which may or may not be true. In perfectionism, mistakes speak to one’s essence. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Reynolds displayed symptoms of what appeared to be bipolar disorder. Therefore, his fear of emotions can be reduced to his fear of depression; patients with bipolar disorder frequently note they fear their manic or hypomanic states, and even just happiness. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Reynolds displayed symptoms of what appeared to be bipolar disorder. Therefore, his fear of emotions can be reduced to his fear of depression; patients with bipolar disorder frequently note they fear their manic or hypomanic states, and even just happiness. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
January 26, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Reynolds would have been incredibly popular had he been real and had he lived in our time, maybe even producing videos and books for the manosphere. He was a bastardization of stoicism and mental well-being, more broadly. Yet, the film’s end brought hope. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Reynolds would have been incredibly popular had he been real and had he lived in our time, maybe even producing videos and books for the manosphere. He was a bastardization of stoicism and mental well-being, more broadly. Yet, the film’s end brought hope. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
As a writer, I used to believe that being featured in a well-known publication would give me the ability to decide on what I want to write about, help me earn much more money, win the admiration of fellow writers, and cause them to shower me with praise. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:14 PM
As a writer, I used to believe that being featured in a well-known publication would give me the ability to decide on what I want to write about, help me earn much more money, win the admiration of fellow writers, and cause them to shower me with praise. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Reynolds displayed symptoms of what appeared to be bipolar disorder. Therefore, his fear of emotions can be reduced to his fear of depression patients with bipolar disorder frequently note they fear their manic or hypomanic states, and even just happiness. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Reynolds displayed symptoms of what appeared to be bipolar disorder. Therefore, his fear of emotions can be reduced to his fear of depression patients with bipolar disorder frequently note they fear their manic or hypomanic states, and even just happiness. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Adding to noise and confrontation, he also detests anything joyous, as though that could somehow be associated, inevitably, with pain. The basic expression of perfectionism is an individual overusing routine, management, and work to avoid their feelings. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Adding to noise and confrontation, he also detests anything joyous, as though that could somehow be associated, inevitably, with pain. The basic expression of perfectionism is an individual overusing routine, management, and work to avoid their feelings. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Becky Lynch used Lyra’s mistakes as a way to connect with her. While also upset about the match, since she’s a perfectionist too, Becky saw perfectionism’s misery in another, someone she deeply cared for, and helped widen her perspective. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:11 AM
Becky Lynch used Lyra’s mistakes as a way to connect with her. While also upset about the match, since she’s a perfectionist too, Becky saw perfectionism’s misery in another, someone she deeply cared for, and helped widen her perspective. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Patients with bipolar disorder note they fear their manic states as they know what follows them. They use perfectionism as a levee, solidifying it each time breaks in large part due to the fanciful conviction that discipline is the key to emotional mastery. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 25, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Patients with bipolar disorder note they fear their manic states as they know what follows them. They use perfectionism as a levee, solidifying it each time breaks in large part due to the fanciful conviction that discipline is the key to emotional mastery. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Reasonably, we can conclude that Reynolds displayed symptoms of what appeared to be bipolar disorder. Therefore, his fear of emotions can be reduced to his fear of depression patients with bipolar disorder frequently note they fear their manic states. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Reasonably, we can conclude that Reynolds displayed symptoms of what appeared to be bipolar disorder. Therefore, his fear of emotions can be reduced to his fear of depression patients with bipolar disorder frequently note they fear their manic states. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Perfectionism, the belief that one has to be perfect all of the time, everywhere, and to everyone (and/or that another ought to be perfect for them), is flawlessly exhibited in the 2017 film Phantom Thread. Calling Reynolds meticulous is an understatement. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
The Phantom Thread of Perfectionism
Reynolds Woodcock is a master designer, who submerges himself in his work to avoid his deep fear of feeling anything, exhibiting all of the traits of perfectionism.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Perfectionism, the belief that one has to be perfect all of the time, everywhere, and to everyone (and/or that another ought to be perfect for them), is flawlessly exhibited in the 2017 film Phantom Thread. Calling Reynolds meticulous is an understatement. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Mistakes serve as reminders of how distant that vision is. Many of our perfectionist patients speak of life as though much of it resembles a high school hierarchy, with the great ones always perched on top. Character is hardly considered. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 25, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Mistakes serve as reminders of how distant that vision is. Many of our perfectionist patients speak of life as though much of it resembles a high school hierarchy, with the great ones always perched on top. Character is hardly considered. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
On episode 250, we welcome Amy Nathan to discuss civil rights icon Sara Keyes Evans, her own decision to not move to the back of a bus, the decades long legal battle that followed, state vs federal law, what inspired her tenancy to fight racism.
Full ep: youtu.be/usuiyrB_hfc
Full ep: youtu.be/usuiyrB_hfc
Amy Nathan - The Untold Story of Civil Rights Icon Sara Keyes Evans | STM Podcast #250
YouTube video by Seize the Moment Podcast
youtu.be
January 25, 2026 at 4:06 PM
On episode 250, we welcome Amy Nathan to discuss civil rights icon Sara Keyes Evans, her own decision to not move to the back of a bus, the decades long legal battle that followed, state vs federal law, what inspired her tenancy to fight racism.
Full ep: youtu.be/usuiyrB_hfc
Full ep: youtu.be/usuiyrB_hfc
January 25, 2026 at 1:56 PM
If you’re terrified of making mistakes, you’re likely a perfectionist. While many accept mistakes as a key part of growth, perfectionists tend to form a deep sense of meaning around them, which may or may not be true. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:13 AM
If you’re terrified of making mistakes, you’re likely a perfectionist. While many accept mistakes as a key part of growth, perfectionists tend to form a deep sense of meaning around them, which may or may not be true. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Perfectionism is fixated on acquiring more power, over self and others; it’s hardly associated with anything resembling rapport. If one is perfect, it’s believed, one earns everyone’s respect, silences their inner critic, and is about to predict behavior. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Perfectionism is fixated on acquiring more power, over self and others; it’s hardly associated with anything resembling rapport. If one is perfect, it’s believed, one earns everyone’s respect, silences their inner critic, and is about to predict behavior. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
It feels like one is either great or isn’t (with an accompanying internal voice stoking the flames of rebellion against that notion). So, the great ones make no mistakes while the ordinary ones always do. This mindset is a form of black-and-white thinking. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 24, 2026 at 9:01 PM
It feels like one is either great or isn’t (with an accompanying internal voice stoking the flames of rebellion against that notion). So, the great ones make no mistakes while the ordinary ones always do. This mindset is a form of black-and-white thinking. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
I truly don’t understand how this keeps happening: people reach out to us, even multiplies times, to ask us to host someone on our podcast and then that person doesn’t show up, no warning. Truly scummy shit. Most of the time I had never even heard of them.
January 24, 2026 at 8:07 PM
I truly don’t understand how this keeps happening: people reach out to us, even multiplies times, to ask us to host someone on our podcast and then that person doesn’t show up, no warning. Truly scummy shit. Most of the time I had never even heard of them.
I speak of my hopes and expectations as a writer with some degree of embarrassment because most of that never happened and was never going to happen. And how did I respond? I harped on my mistakes, which I considered the source of my chronic unhappiness. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I speak of my hopes and expectations as a writer with some degree of embarrassment because most of that never happened and was never going to happen. And how did I respond? I harped on my mistakes, which I considered the source of my chronic unhappiness. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
January 24, 2026 at 4:23 PM
WWE Unreal exhibited a great example of perfectionism. Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch wrestled each other at an important show, but in a sub-par match, largely because Lyra, plagued by self-doubt and anxiety, made several mistakes she couldn’t recover from. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...
Your Mistakes Are Not That Important, but Your Response Is
While perfectionists fixate on their mistakes, due to a deep fear of losing respect, it's how we respond to our mistakes and those of others that is much more important.
www.psychologytoday.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:51 PM
WWE Unreal exhibited a great example of perfectionism. Lyra Valkyria and Becky Lynch wrestled each other at an important show, but in a sub-par match, largely because Lyra, plagued by self-doubt and anxiety, made several mistakes she couldn’t recover from. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perf...