When Achieving Becomes a Burden – Letting go of Inner Pressure

In a recent session with Mr Schmidt, I realised how deeply my inner drive for achievement had shaped me. What had once been a motivating force had silently turned into relentless forward momentum – something that drained me rather than carrying me.

I had previously worked with Mr Schmidt and knew he was the right person to help me understand this pattern. During our session, I explored my inner drive through a guided visualisation exercise. In my ideal world, I saw it as a soft, luxurious carpet rolling out before me, smoothing my career path. Yet when I listened more closely, my experience was quite different: it felt more like a whip or a spur – demanding, relentless, driven by an inner voice that never quietened.

Mr Schmidt invited me to follow this sensation further. As I did, the images became clearer. I saw the whip before my inner eye, heard its sharp crack, felt the spurs pushing me forward. It carried a masculine energy – strict, but not hostile. As we explored this part of me, I realised that it was fighting for recognition, for love, for validation. At its core, it was seeking something deeper – the acceptance of my father, which I had unconsciously longed for all my life.

The longer I observed this force, the more I understood that it was not my enemy. It was not trying to destroy me but to protect me. But it only knew one language: discipline, relentless progression. For years, I had ignored this force, until it grew louder, more insistent, impossible to overlook. Mr Schmidt helped me see it not as an opponent, but as a neglected advisor. One who no longer needed to wield a whip if I was willing to listen.

As the session progressed, I felt a shift. The image of the whip began to change. Its grip loosened, its force softened. I realised: my drive could remain – but not as pressure, rather as self-acceptance. I no longer needed to prove myself. I needed to learn to accept myself without chasing the love and validation of others, especially when I was denying it to myself.

This moment of realisation was profound. I saw that achievement does not have to stem from fear or scarcity, but can arise from joy and meaning. That my worth is not tied to success but to my own understanding of myself. The whip had not disappeared – but it no longer needed to drive me. I had understood it.

The effects of this session extended beyond that moment. In the days that followed, I noticed a shift in how I handled stress. I still felt pressure, but it no longer controlled me. Instead of falling into familiar patterns, I could pause, recognise the impulse – and make a conscious choice about my limits. This newfound inner freedom felt unfamiliar, yet liberating.

If you recognise yourself in these words, a deeper look inside may open new pathways. My sessions with Mr Schmidt helped me redefine my relationship with ambition – perhaps this process could offer you new perspectives as well.