Dear Mentors: How do I manage anxiety, perfectionism, and constant comparison—especially in creative roles where everything feels subjective?
Editor’s Note:
Recently, the Instagram algorithm introduced me to Ryan Holiday, best-selling author of Stoic philosophy books and savvy digital marketer, who lives nearby in Bastrop. So my mind went to Stoic virtues when I pondered this Mentee’s question. Here are a few choice bits of advice from those ancient philosophers:
“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” — Seneca
“The more you focus on your own character, the less time you waste trying to control or compare yourself to someone else.” — Epictetus
But we don’t have to depend solely on those early Greek and Roman men for advice! In this month’s blog, our modern-day WCA Peer Mentors blend life experience with their own philosophies for navigating anxiety, comparison, and self-doubt. I think you’ll find they are just as quotable and wise!
Dear Mentee,
One way to manage anxiety and comparison—particularly in creative work, where there is rarely one “right” answer—is to define your own north star. Develop a personal mission statement or a few core values that describe what you want your work to accomplish and how you want to show up. Then evaluate your work against your standards rather than constantly measuring yourself against what someone else is doing. The question becomes less “Am I as good as them?” and more “Am I doing work that reflects what I value and contributes something meaningful?”
It’s also worth examining where your perfectionism comes from. Is it driven by fear of criticism, a desire for control, imposter syndrome, or an internal belief that your work determines your worth? Understanding the source can help you decide when perfectionism is serving you—and when it is simply creating anxiety.
There is no such thing as perfect work, especially in a subjective field. But perfectionism isn’t entirely a weakness. At its best, it can push you toward high standards, careful thinking and thoughtful contributions. The goal isn’t to eliminate that instinct; it’s to put it in perspective. Let your values, rather than comparison, define what “good enough” and “excellent” mean for you.
Dear Mentee,
Great question! There are so many ways to attack this…I’m going to focus on building yourself up with positive self-talk. It may sound a little woo woo, but I SWEAR changing the way I talk to myself completely changed my life. This is not groundbreaking. You’ve heard this before, but I really could not recommend it enough.
Start by just paying attention. What is the tone of the voice in your head? Is it berating you a bit? Would you be mortified if you said those things to someone else? And once you’re aware of it, start to make things more positive.
It’s really fortifying to be your own biggest cheerleader. The more I’ve practiced this, the less I care about comparing myself to others because I like me, and I think I’m doing great! Give it a shot!
Dear Mentee,
I work in a creative role and at times, we all fall into the comparison game, wondering if our work is making an impact or changing outcomes. As a perfectionist myself, I can be hard on myself and I want to know that I have moved the needle with my creative work. But, that’s sometimes hard to ascertain. I try to remember my actual goal. I work for clients and my goal is to serve my clients well. My client-side team members are doing their jobs, directing growth for their group. And while it oftentimes feels like turning a cruise ship, it’s the collaboration and the teamwork that moves the needle. Slowly. So, I reflect on the real goals of my client. Are they happy with my work and did it help them execute that turn, however large or small? Are they excited to incorporate my work as part of their navigation to the island of success, whatever that looks like to them? If the answer is yes, I did my job, and I did it well.
Hope this is helpful. 🙂
Dear Mentee,
This is a great question. I’m going to tackle it from the perspective of thickening your skin and increasing resiliency. Whether you’re in creative or supervisory / management roles in communications, some anxiety is part of the job. If you Google “how do I manage anxiety at work,” answers fall into three general categories:
- change the people around you, (e.g. “talk to your boss about improving communication”);
- change the work (“ask for a different project or explore other jobs or careers”);
- and change you (learn a new skill or approach your work with a different mindset).
Advice in all three categories can improve your well-being at work. But changing you is the most empowering, long-lasting strategy for managing anxiety, perfectionism and comparison.
This is great news. But you may be wondering, where do I start? What do I change? It depends on where your pain is. We cannot change what we refuse to feel.
You might ask yourself:
Where is perfectionism showing up as procrastination?
When is fear of comparison showing up as overworking?
How is anxiety impacting relationships in your personal or professional life?
We can always change our relationship with ourselves — our feelings and our behavior. First take inventory with a notebook and pen every morning:
How am I feeling about work today?
What is causing this feeling?
Do I want to feel differently and why?
What’s in my control?
A practice of answering these questions can yield insights to change your relationship with anxiety, perfectionism and comparison. You’ll increase your capacity to manage stress, receive constructive criticism, and deflect what does not serve you.
Feel better at work,
Got your own career conundrum you’d like advice on?
Then sign up for the WCA peer mentoring program. It’s free to members!
Not ready to sign up yet? Submit your question to Ask a Peer Mentor. It’s all about peers who care about helping their fellow WCA members.
Compiled and edited by Paige Booth
- How do I manage anxiety and perfectionism in a creative role? - August 31, 2026