Shortening the Spiral: When Small Mistakes Become Big Stories in Your Head

Shortening the Spiral

TLDR: A stumbled interview introduction and a forgotten team name became the catalyst for examining how our brains amplify minor mistakes into existential questions about competence. The author draws a powerful parallel between eating disorder recovery techniques and managing workplace self-criticism: the goal is not eliminating the critical thought, but shortening its stay.

Shortening the spiral