Question: How much should you care about things?
Answer: I'm unsure exactly but I know that it's not "the absolute maximum amount, all the time, for everything."
A classic insecure overachiever struggles to correctly distinguish between the small number of areas in life which require every ounce of your vigilance and attention bringing to bear on them, and the ones that don't.
Not everything is a life or death situation.
You don't need to optimize or win or perfect every area.
"Pour your finite time and energy into something infinitely more absorbing than trying to keep life under control, which is actually living it." — Oliver Burkeman
I was reminded of this when I made myself pass out during a breathwork class a few months ago because I figured that "if 2-minute breath holds are good, then 3-minute holds must be even better so I'll do that and win."
Win what?
All I won was a concerned look from the teacher as she peered over me, bringing me back round.
Stop worrying about doing everything perfectly. Especially things you're supposed to be doing to relax like meditation or hobbies.
In the process of trying to be perfect, you're thoroughly ruining the enjoyment of whatever you're supposed to be enjoying by turning leisure into labour.
Don't forget — you are not fixing a problem. There is no problem to be fixed. There is no doing this wrong.
Chris Williamson | @chriswillx